Brachiaria ruziziensis TEM POTENCIAL DE FITORREMEDIAÇÃO DE SOLOS CONTAMINADOS COM ÓLEO DIESEL?

Abstract

The soil contamination, by the leakage of oil or its by-products, is a cause for concern worldwide, causing damage to human health and other forms of ecosystem life. Some petroleum hydrocarbons are considered carcinogenic and mutagenic for living beings. To minimize the impacts of these compounds on the environment, plants are a biotechnological option for removing contaminants from soil through phytoremediation. The objective was to study the phytoremediation potential of Brachiaria ruziziensis cultivated in soils contaminated with diesel oil, and to determine the possible visual, morpho-anatomical and physiological effects. The seeds of Brachiaria ruziziensis were sown in individual pots containing soil previously contaminated with diesel oil at concentrations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 g Kg-1. After 67 days of exposure to treatments, visual and morpho-anatomical, physiological and oil removal assessments were performed. B. ruzizienses had a better performance in removing the contaminant in the lowest tested dose, also presented chlorosis and necrosis in its leaves, reduced growth of the aerial and root parts and, with the morphological analyzes, a reduction in mesophyll and cellular breakdown was identified. From these results, the species has a low potential as phytoremediation of soils contaminated with diesel oil but can be used in environmental monitoring programs.