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Inducement of Secondary Thickenings in Roots of Maize Exposed To Ex-
Gold Mining Soil from Pepsiblue Lake, Rusila, Terengganu
Nor Farahana binti Zamri
Supervisor: Dr. Nurul Aliaa binti Idris
Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences)
School of Fundamental Science
Mining activities are known to negatively impact the environment by polluting the soil
and further cause stress to the growth of plants. However, certain plants are known
to adapt to these environmental stresses through anatomical defence mechanisms.
This study was done to investigate the effects of growing maize (Zea mays L.) in soil
from ex-gold mine in Rusila. The treatments used were 100% ex-gold mine soil, 1:1
ratio of ex-gold mine soil and potting mix, and 100% potting mix as control. Using
histological techniques, it was observed that intensive wall thickenings were detected
in exodermis of the roots in plants grown in 100% ex-gold mine soil compared to the
control. The thickness of secondary thickenings were higher in 100% ex-gold mine
soil compared to the control while the length of the roots were shorter. The function
of secondary thickenings maybe as a protection wall to the cell when the plants
become stress.
Keywords: maize, secondary thickenings, ex-gold mine soil, exodermis
368 | U M T U N D E R G R A D U A T E R E S E A R C H D A Y 2018