Content uploaded by Harrison A Erhenhi
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Harrison A Erhenhi on Oct 10, 2020
Content may be subject to copyright.
EFFECTS OF DETERGENTS AND LOCAL SOAP ON CAJANUS CAJAN
Erhenhi, A.H
*Department of Botany, Delta State University, P.M.B 1, Abraka, Delta State,
E-mail: mac_harrison7@yahoo.com
Abstract
Young plants of pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan, were selected and
subjected to different concentrations (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) of
detergents (ARIEL, BUNUX and OMO - denoted by the letters A, B
and O) and local soap (SODA - denoted by the letter S ). The results
showed that as the concentration of the detergents increased from 15%-
20%, growth parameters (plant height, leaf area, girth and leaf number)
decreased progressively. Plants treated with local soap “Soda” at
different concentrations (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) had their growth
parameters not affected as they grew well like the plants in control
(water). Senescence was observed in plants treated with detergents
leading to total mortality at 20% concentration. Total mortality was not
observed in plants treated with different concentrations of local soap
“Soda”. Key words: Detergents, local soap “Soda”, mortality
INTRODUCTION
Helenius et al., (1979) defines detergent as Substances that when dissolves in water posses the
ability to remove dirt form surfaces. Such as the human skin, textiles and other solids, such is termed a
detergent.
Detergents can also be defined as amphiphathic molecules that self-associate and bind to
hydrophobic surface. Their intrinsic property forming curved micelles in aqueous solution makes them
useful for solubilizing planar biological membranes proteins by the formations of mixed micelles often
without denaturing them. Although, they have proved invaluable tools for solubilizing integral membrane
proteins.It has become apparent that not all detergent are equally efficient at solubilizing membranes, and
that membranes proteins and lipids are differentially extracted by individual detergents Garavito et al.,
(2001). These observations have provided support to the concept that, membrane are not homogenous and
contains micro domains with distinct lipid and protein composition.
The effects of detergent on plants vary depending on how the plant is exposed to it first of all, if a
plant is sprayed with detergent solution to cover all the leaves, the detergent which contains surfactant as
a component has a lethal effect on the plant Gellini et al., (1985). In general biological detergents are
most commonly used to disrupt the bipolar lipid membrane of cells in order to first free on their solubilize
membrane-bound proteins. Some detergents can also be used to solubilize recombinant protein, while
others find their usage in the stabilization, crystallization, or denaturing of proteins. Additional
applications include the extraction of DNA and RNA, the solubilization of specimens for diagnostic
application, the lysis of cells, the preparation of liposomes, prevention of reagents and analyze
precipitation from solution, and the prevention of non-specific binding in immunoassays Hjelmeland
(1990). Detergents have the following components, surfactant, Abrasives, water softener, oxidizers, non-
Surfactant, Enzymes and other ingredients among these entire components; surfactant has the most lethal
effects on plant (vegetation). Gellini et al., ( 1985).
Proceedings o f the Delta S tate U nivers ity Fac ulty of Science M aiden Conference (Ed ited by G. E. Akp ojotor and N. J. Tonukari)
Nige rian Journal of Science and Environment, Vol. 10, Nos. 1 & 2, pp225 - 2 32, 2011
The term “soap” refers to particular types of detergent in which the water-solubilized group is
carboxylate and the positive ion is usually sodium or potassium. Soap is manufacture by an alkaline
hydrolysis reaction called saponification.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Healthy seeds of pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan were obtained from the different markets in Abraka, Delta
State. The soil used was sieved with sand sieves (filter) to remove debris and to loosen the soil particles to
enable easy percolation of water. The sieved soil was then weighed with weighing balance into nursery
bags and each bag weighed lOOg. The bags were replicated and three seeds were planted per bag. The
plants were watered regularly for germination and stability. The detergents and soap implored are the
commonest used domestically (Ariel, Bonux , Omo and Soda) by the people of Nigeria.
Different concentrations were made into 5%, 10%, 5% and 20% of the detergents and soap. Viability test
was done to ascertain the viability of seeds for planting into polythene bags.
RESULTS
Plate 1 (colour online): Effects of 5% concentration of detergents and local soap on Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment
Plate2 (colour online): Effects of 10% concentration of detergents and local soap on Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment
Plate3 (colour online): Effects of 15% concentration of detergents and local soap on Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment
Plate4 (colour online): Effects of 20% concentration of detergents and local soap on Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment
In Plates 1-4, less than a week of treatment, at 5% concentration, plants treated with the three different
detergents exhibited senescence which leads to mortality of the plants with exception to Ariel detergent.
Plants treated with 5% concentration of local soap did not exhibit senescence and mortality (Plate 1).
Total mortality occurred in all the plants treated with 10%-20% concentrations of the three detergents
while plants treated with local soap at these concentrations were unaffected (Plates 2, 3 &4)
35.00
_ 30.00
E
“ 25.00
JL 20.00
■C
I 1 5.00
Q. 10.00
5.00
0.00
Tre atm ents (%)
Fig 1 (colour online): Effects detergents and local soap on the Mean plant height of Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment.
As the concentrations increased, there was a progressive decrease in the mean plant height. The highest
mean plant height was obtained in plants
treated with 5% concentration of soda (Fig 1). The mean plant height of
(
i
plants treated with soda at different concentrations was significantly different (P<0.05) from plants
treated with the three different detergents’ concentrations (Fig 1)
25.00 i
20.00 -
<D
A
Treatments (%)
Fig 2 (colour online): Effects detergents and local soap on the mean leaf number of Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment.
There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean leaf number of plants treated with 5%
concentration of the detergents (Fig 2). Increase in the concentration of both local soap and the detergents
resulted in the decrease of the mean leaf number. The highest mean number was obtained in the plants
treated with 5% concentration of local soap. It was observed that there was significant difference (P<0.05)
between the mean leaf number of plants treated with 5% concentration of local soap and these treated
with 20% concentration of the local soap (Fig 2).
E
o
U)
£
cu
1.40
1.20
1.00 -
0.80 -
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
^ <s- o V ■& 'o '? ^
Treatments (%)
<§\° <§\° «§\° K<§V» ^ k<§\° N<§\° <$\° & «?\° <z\° A a d?\° d>V>
A' nO'
As concentrations increased, there was a similar pattern of decrease in the mean girth of all the plants.
There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the mean stem girth obtained in plants treated with
5% and 10% Bonux and Omo detergents. The highest mean stem girth was obtained in plants treated
with 5% concentration of local soap. There was no significant difference ( P>0.05) in the mean stem
girth between plants treated with 5% and 10% concentrations of local soap. The least value of mean stem
girth was obtained in plants treated with 20% concentration of Omo detergent, and was found to be
significantly different (P<0.05) from the mean stem girth of plants treated with 5% concentration of local
soap and control (Fig 3)
Fig 3 (colour online): Effects detergents and local soap on the mean stem girth(cm) of Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment.
16.00 -
14.00
12.00
10.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
n n n
y- ^ <t>' O y-
Tre atm en ts (% )
Fig 4 (colour online): Effects detergents and local soap on the mean leaf area (cm2) of Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea) under 2 weeks of treatment.
The highest value of mean leaf area was obtained in plants treated with 5% concentration of ’ocal soap
while the least values of mean leaf area were obtained in plants treated with 20% concentration of Bunux
and Omo detergents (Fig 4). There was significant difference(P<0.05) between the mean leaf area of
plants treated with 5% concentration of local soap and the plants treated with 20% concentration of
Bunux and Omo detergents (Fig 4). The was significant difference(P<0.05) between plants grown in
control and those treated with 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% concentrations of the three different detergents
(Fig 4).
DISCUSSION
It was observed that low concentration (5%) of local soap “Soda” favoured the growth parameters
of plants used (Plates 1-4).This is in accordance with what Carl, (1998) reported that soap at a minute
concentration acts as fertilizer to the plant while at higher concentration it then shift from it positive effects
to harmful effects to the plant. i
As low as 5% concentration of the three different detergents, growth parameters were hindered.
The severity of the effects on plants also depends on the level of concentration, although it never had any
positive effects on plants. This was earlier reported by Gellini, et al., (1985) that excess detergent to plants
has detrimental effects on the vegetation including alternation to stomata and epicuticular waxes.
The inhibitory effects that lead to total mortality in plants treated with detergents started from the
least concentration (5%). The higher the concentration, the higher the adverse effects cn growth
parameters and the effects of detergent on plant are systemic because all parts of the plants are affected (
Figs 1-5), this concurs with the previous work by paoletti, et al., (1989) that detergent causes direct injury
such as alterations in photosynthesis, shrinking of the stem girth, leaf length, plant height, yellowing of
leaves and finally the total mortality of the plants.
This agrees with the earlier report of Gellim et al., (1985) that visible leaves injury has been
observed in Pinus treated for one week with lOOmg detergent. The severity of the detergents on the plants
was so high that total mortality was recorded. Large quantities of surfactant which is a component of
detergent can cause direct injury on plant such as alteration in photosynthesis inhibition of growth
paoletti, et al, (1989) transpiration, Smith (1941), induction of high ratio of chromosome aberration
Bellani, et al., (1991) and germ tube elongation, Feder (1981) and also root elongation and mitotic index.
Contrary to the results obtained with detergents, local soap tends to act as growth promoter.
REFERENCES
Bellani, L.M., C. Rinallo and Benmci, A (1991). Cytomorphologiccal acceleration in Allium roots
induced by surfactants. Eviron. Exp. Bot. 43:73-84
Carl, M. (1998).Plant science, Cambridge University press Cambridge Pp73-80.
Feder, W.A. (1981). Bioassaying for ozone with pollen systems Environ . Health Perspect. 37:117 - 123.
Garavito, R.M. and Ferguson, R. Miller, S. (2001). Detergents as tools in membrane biochemistry. J. Biol.
Chem 276: 32403 - 32406.
Gellini, R. F. Pantani, P. Orossoni, F. Bussotti, E. Barbolam and C.Rinallo. (1985). Further investigation
on the causes of disorder of the coastal vegetation in the park of Sam rossore (central italy). Eur. J.
fo r pathol. 15: 145- 157.
Helenius, A., Simmons, K. (1975). Solubilization of membranes by detergents. Biochim Biophys. Acta.
415: 29 -27 .
Hjelmeland, L. M. (1990). Solubilization of native membrane Proteins. Methods Enzymol. 182: 264 -
276.
Paoletti, E., Bellani, R., Barbolani, E. (1989). Effect of Acid Fog and detergent on foliar leaching of
Cations. Water, Air, Soil Pollution. 54: 49 -61.
Smith, E. L (1941). The action of sodium dodecyl-surfate on the chlorophyll-protein compound of the
spinach leaf, J. Gen. Physiol. 24:583-596.
