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Degree Name

MS (Master of Science)

Program

Biology

Date of Award

5-2012

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Dhirendra Kumar

Committee Members

Foster Levy, Chu-Ngi Ho

Abstract

The prevailing conditions in metalliferous soils are usually hostile for plant growth, but some plant species are still able to thrive in these substrates. Festuca arundinacea Schreb. plants were found to thrive on serpentine soils containing high concentrations of Cr and Ni. These plants contained higher concentrations of Ni in their roots than in their shoots. Hydroponic growth experiments with 350 µM and 650 µM Ni singularly and in combination revealed that more Cr was accumulated at the roots. The opposite was the case for Ni. The same experiments showed no difference between plants from serpentine and control soils in terms of growth and metal uptake. Ni was found to be toxic to control Festuca arundinacea plants at concentrations of at least 50 µM. The uptake of Ni in Festuca arundinacea was increased by an increase in the concentration of Ni and a decrease the pH of the substrate.

Document Type

Thesis - restricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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