Increasing knowledge about phytoremediation through a practical approach for undergraduate students

Universities play an important role in society and in providing solutions for its problems. Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing the world today. Thus, universities are increasingly including subjects related to the environment and its conservation both in their educati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biological education 2021-10, Vol.55 (5), p.548-554
Main Authors: Talano, Melina A., Ibañez, Sabrina, Sosa Alderete, Lucas G., Wevar Oller, Ana L., Vezza, Mariana E., Medina, María I., Agostini, Elizabeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry
Conservation (Environment)
Environmental Education
Foreign Countries
Laboratory Experiments
peroxidases
phenol
Phytoremediation
Plants (Botany)
Pollution
practical approach
Science Experiments
Science Instruction
Science Laboratories
Scientific Concepts
Undergraduate Students
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Summary:Universities play an important role in society and in providing solutions for its problems. Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing the world today. Thus, universities are increasingly including subjects related to the environment and its conservation both in their educational and research programmes. Generally, undergraduate students know many benefits of plants, such as being sources for food and several bioactive compounds, provision of atmospheric oxygen and soil conservation. However, they are less aware of the potential of plants in 'cleaning' environmental pollutants. To this end, a useful biochemistry laboratory approach is described that guides students to learn about the applicability of phytoremediation using in vitro plant cultures (hairy roots) to degrade an organic pollutant (phenol) from a synthetic solution. This laboratory approach has been successfully implemented in university Plant Biotechnology courses to deepen understanding about phytoremediation potential and highlight the biochemical basis of this process. This procedure can be easily adopted to increase student learning of environmental issues, and awareness about the potential of using plants for environmental remediation processes.
ISSN:0021-9266
2157-6009
DOI:10.1080/00219266.2020.1739115