Effect of Growing Sesamum Indicum L. on Enhanced Dissipation of Lindane (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-Hexachlorocyclohexane) from Soil

Abstract

The effect of growing Sesamum indicum L. on the dissipation of lindane (γ-HCH) was studied in spiked soil. For this, S. indicum was grown with four different concentrations of lindane (5, 10, 15, and 20 μg g⁻¹). Plant growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, soluble protein, microbial biomass carbon, lindane uptake, residual lindane concentration in soil and percentage dissipation of lindane from soil were analyzed at 25, 90, and 124 d. The accumulation of lindane in test plants was linearly related to the soil concentration (r² = 0.897–0.979). At maturity, the accumulation of lindane in S. indicum grown with four spiked concentrations reached up to 7.98, 13.72, 23.71, and 33.29 μg g⁻¹ dry matter, respectively. There was a marked difference in the dissipation of lindane in vegetated and non-vegetated soils (p < 0.01). After final harvesting, the residual lindane concentrations in four spiked concentrations were reduced by 77.56, 70.12, 62.51, and 58.7%, respectively. Agronomic practice for the onsite application of this species is discussed. Based on the present study, it was calculated that S. indicum could accumulate 2237–2611 mg lindane per acre after 124 d cultivation. S. indicum could thus be used for the phytoremediation of lindane contaminated soil.

KEY WORDS:

• Sesamum indicum L
• lindane
• dissipation
• phytoremediation
• accumulation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Director of National Botanical Research Institute for providing facilities. P.C. Abhilash is thankful to University Grants Commission, Government of India for Doctoral Fellowship (UGC-JRF-SRF).

Notes

*Means with different letters in a particular row differ at p ≤ 0.05 level (ANOVA-DMRT).

*The upper accumulation range was calculated by the maximum dry matter production in controlled conditions × the maximum observed accumulation per plant and lower accumulation range was calculated using the actual dry matter production in spiked plants × maximum accumulation of lindane per plant on a dry matter basis.