EFFECT OF COPPER TOXICITY ON GROWTH PARAMETERS OF Populus deltoides (W. BARTRAM EX.MARSHALL) AND ITS BIOREMEDIATION BY ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI

The present investigation entitled “Effect of copper toxicity on growth parameters of Populus deltoides (W. Bartram ex. Marshall) and its bioremediation by entomopathogenic fungi” was carried under laboratory conditions in the Department of Environmental Science, College of Forestry, and Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during HP 2013-2014.The studies were completed with two experiments; experiment one comprised of eleven treatments viz., T1 (Nocopper), T2 (100 ppm Cu), T3 (200 ppm Cu), T4 (100 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10 5 condia/ml), T5 (100 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10 condia/ml), T6 (200 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10 5 condia/ml), T7 (200 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10 condia/ml), T8 (100 ppm Cu + B. bassiana, 1 x 10 5 condia/ml), T9 (100 ppm Cu + B. bassiana, 1x10 condia/ml), T10 (200 ppm Cu + B. bassiana (1x10 5 condia/ml), T11 (200 ppm Cu + B. bassiana ,1x10 condia/ml). whereas, experiment two included seven treatments having only higher doses of entomopathogenic fungi. Highest (53) and lowest (33) numbers of leaves per plant of P. deltoides were recorded at treatment T5 and T1 respectively, whereas, leaf area was maximum (0.16 m ) and minimum (0.08 m) at treatments T9 and T1, respectively. Maximum plant height of 1.76 m was observed in treatment T5. The biomass of different plant parts of P. deltoides viz., roots, stem and leaves was statistically minimum at T1, the root and stem biomass showed increase at 100 ppm copper along with entomopathogenic fungi, leaf biomass was statistically similar at T2, T8 and T9 treatments. Highest chlorophyll content was recorded at T9 and lowest was at T10 and T3. There was an increase in ascorbic acid with concentration of copper. The treatment combinations of 100 ppm copper with entomopathogenic fungi recorded higher ascorbic acid content than respective control, whereas, there was decrease in ascorbic acid content in treatments with 200 ppm copper combination with entomopathogenic fungi. As compared to control (T1) there was increase in total sugar content of P. deltiodes but there was no significant difference between the respective control and their treatment combination with entomopathogenic fungi. There was increase in total phenol content of plants with increase in copper concentration to 200 ppm, highest phenol content was at T3. Distribution of copper content in different parts of P. deltoides was in the order of root> stem> leaves. The highest uptake of copper in roots, stem and leaves was 0.32, 0.57 and 0.18 mg/plant, respectively. Entomopathogenic fungi reduced the copper levels in soil to some extent. Highest percent reduction (21.89 %) was at T11, Highest percent reduction (35.09) of 100 ppm copper was recorded with M. anisopliae, 1x10 condia/ml, whereas, B. bassiana (1x10 condia/ml) recorded highest percent reduction (34.05) of 200 ppm copper. There was decrease in protein content of white grub (B. coriacea) with treatments and increase in copper content. Percent corrected mortality was highest (65.13) at T5. The species was capable of tolerating high concentrations of copper and could be good candidate for planting in copper contaminated soils. The studies indicate the role of fungi in bioremediation of copper contaminated soils and toxicity to white grubs. Signature of Major Advisor Signature of student