Abstract

Southern Nigeria is a major cassava producing area that has been subjected to air pollution from increasing industrial activities and population explosion in the coastal towns and cities. The level of pollution is not expected to change drastically in the immediate future. Investigations were carried out to study the changes in the morphology, survival, growth and yield of TMS 96/1672 cultivar of cassava Manihot esculenta (Crantz) to simulated acid rain. The plants were exposed to simulated acid rain of pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 (control) respectively. Simulated acid rain induced morphological changes including chlorosis, early leaf senescence, necrosis, leaf abscission, leaf folding and death. Plant height, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight, relative growth rate, chlorophyll content and the harvest index was the highest at pH 7.0 (control) and significantly (p<0.05) decreased with increasing acidity. The results indicates that TMS 96/1672 cultivar of Manihot esculenta exhibited growth stimulation at low acidity of pH 2.0 and it is likely to be retarded in future due to rapid and uncontrolled industrialization.

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