Effect of Crude Oil Polluted Soil on the Reproductive Growth of Plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)

Soil polluted by crude oil is detrimental to the survival of plants and microbes. Plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) is a major important food crop, showing tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. This study investigated the impact of soil polluted with Bonny Light crude oil (BLCO) on the reproductive growth of two plantain cultivars. Crude oil was added to agricultural soil on which plantain suckers were planted. Reproductive growth was then periodically assessed. The number of suckers was significantly higher in French plantain plants grown on polluted soil in comparison with control. False Horn plantain plants on unpolluted soil produced more suckers in comparison to the plants on polluted soil. Also, the time between planting to flower bud appearance and flower bud appearance to bud opening reduced in plants on polluted soil in both cultivars in comparison with the control. Statistically, there was an insignificant decrease in the fruit size of False Horn plantain on polluted soil compared with the control while there was an appreciable increase with a significant effect in fruits size of French plantain on  polluted soil compared with the control. Generally, French plantain tolerated the stress induced by crude oil pollution of soil in its reproductive growth more than False Horn. The reproductive growth of False Horn and French plantain cultivars show that there could be varied response to crude oil polluted soil.