MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, PLANT SCIENCE
AND MICROBIOLOGY

STUDENT’S NAME: ASILAZA EMMANUEL TAMALE

REGISTRATION NO : 22/U/5820

STUDENT’S NO : 2200705820

COURSE : BIOTECHNOLOGY

COURSE NAME : FIELD BASED TRAINING IN

BIOTECHNOLOGY

COURSE CODE : BBT2209

YEAR : TWO

SEMESTER : TWO

LECTURER : PMB

DATE : 23rd JAN 2024

TASK. : FIELD REPORT FOR FIELD

STUDY TO WESTERN UGANDA
Table of Contents
DAY 1: ROYAL PLANTS AND NURSERIES- KYENJOJO
1- PLANT TISSUE CULTURE AND PROPAGATION
2- GRAFTING
DAY 2: FIELD STUDIES IN KASESE
1- BIOMINING OF COBALT, COPPER MINING AND POLLUTION,
REMEDIATION, PHYTOREMEDIATION AND RESTORATION AT
KILEMBE
2- ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AT RIVER NYAMWAMBA AND
RIVER SEBWA
DAY 3: MbaZARDI IN MBARARA
1- CONFINED FIELD TRIALS FOR GMO BANANAS WITH ENHANCED
LEVELS OF VITAMIN A
2- PATHOLOGY
DAY 4: MbaZARDI IN MBARARA
1- LIQUID NITROGEN PRODUCTION, BIOGAS PRODUCTION AND
BIOFERTILIZER PRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN MBARARA
1- GRAPEVINE AND GRAPE WINE PROCESSING FACTORY
2- REDSTAR WINE PROCESSING FACTORY
DAY 1
ROYAL PLANTS AND NURSERIES- KYENJOJO
INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE PLACE
Royal Plants & Nurseries (RPN) was incorporated in 2009 as a private company and its
mandate was to enhance the farming of macadamia nuts in Western Uganda by propagating
macadamia seedlings for distribution to farmers to ensure sustainable supply of the nuts.

With time, RPN has diversified its products to other seedlings including: Macadamia, Hass
Avocado, coffee, grafted mango seedlings, grafted orange seedlings, pinus and eucalyptus
seedlings (clones). RPN has a resourceful managerial and technical team that assists farmers
in an advisory role and ensures production of clean planting materials. They also practice
plant tissue culture and propagation of bananas, Irish potatoes and vanillas.

Plant tissue culture and propagation

Objectives
General objective
To understand the basic procedures used to propagate plants using in-vitro techniques and
factors which determine its success.

Specific objectives
A. To get acquainted with the banana, Irish potatoes and vanillas tissue culture process
B. To ascertain the major contaminants in the tissue culturing process
C. Critique the in-vitro process and identify gaps to fill

Banana material used

Materials used
 1 vial of Murashige Skoog (MS) medium. (If you wish to make up your own
growing medium you could use the recipe for the Murashige medium given at
the end of this section.)
 1 L sterile distilled water
 8 g of agar/L
 30 g sucrose/L
 1.5-L or 2-L container in which to prepare the growth medium
 Small amounts of 1M NaOH and 1M HCl to adjust the pH of the medium
 Glass aquarium or box lined with plastic
 Plastic sheet to cover the top of the aquarium
  Adhesive tape
 10% bleach in a spray bottle
 70% alcohol in a spray bottle
 Forceps or tweezers
 Gloves
 Cutting equipment such as a scalpel blade or razor blade
 2 bottles of sterile distilled water (purchase at the grocery store)
 Pressure cooker
 Your chosen plant (banana)
 Paper towel for cutting on, or sterile petri dishes if available
 Beaker or container in which to wash the plant material
 Detergent-water mixture - 1 ml detergent per liter of water
 Bleach sterilizing solution - dilute commercial bleach (5-6% sodium
hypochlorite) to a final concentration of 1-2% sodium hypochlorite in distilled
water in a large beaker or jar.
 A well-lit area away from direct sunlight or use full-spectrum gro-lights
 Hormones such as BAP (benzylaminopurine) and NAA (naphthalene acetic
acid) to stimulate growth and root development, respectively. (Commercial
rooting hormone solutions and powders are also available from hardware
stores.)

Procedures for banana tissue culturing

Media preparation
The Murashige and Skoog media was prepared as follows. A MS mixture was dissolved in
800ml of distilled water. The solution was stirred continuously while adding the salt mixture.
30 g of sugar was added and the solution stirred to dissolve the sugar. The pH was adjusted
to 5.8 using 1M NaOH or 1M HCl as necessary while gently stirring. Then more distilled
water was added to make the total volume up to 1 Liter. 10 grams of agar were added to the
MS solution and the solution was gently heated while stirring until all the agar dissolved. The
still warm medium was then poured into the polycarbonate tubes to a depth of about 4 cm
which will use about 15ml of media per tube. The tubes (with lids sitting on the tubes but
not tightened) were placed in autoclave and sterilized for 20 minutes. This was followed by
then removing the tubes, cooling them and then tightening with foil paper to avoid
contamination.
Selecting an explant
The following procedures were used to obtain an explant
The plant should have 5 photosynthetically active leaves and inter foliar space must be not
less than 5.0 cm.
The plant should have approximately 25-30 active roots at the end of secondary hardening
stage.
The length of active roots should be more than 15 cm with a good number of secondary
roots.
Plantlets should be free from any visual symptoms of leaf spot, pseudo stem rot and physical
deformations.
Plantlets should be free from the presence of root pathogens like Erwinia rot symptoms,
nematode lesions and root knots. Suckers exhibiting abnormal growth were avoided.
The explant was gotten from
Preparation of explants
The suckers were thoroughly washed in tap water, roots and leaf sheaths are removed, and
basal portion of the corm cut and trimmed to a size of 12*12*15 mm. The explants were
kept under running tap water for 30 minutes, then soaked in sodium hypochlorite
(detergent) mixed with tween twenty for 30 minutes and shook continuously. They were
then washed with distilled water to remove the detergent particles. They are then
transferred to laminar air flow chamber for further sterilization process. Inside the laminar
flow chamber, the explants were treated with 70% ethanol for 2 minutes, washed with
sterile water and trimmed to a final size of 8*8*10 mm, in sterile conditions.
Transfer of plant material to tissue culture medium
Using sterilized forceps inside the laminar flow chamber, the explants are mounted on the
MS media (which was prior prepared in test tubes). They were then sealed with a foil paper
and a transparent tape. A total of 40 materials were cultured. There were then labelled with
the date, the name of the variety and the person in charge and then transferred to the
growth chamber. This is a well-lit area at 26 ± 2°C, in a light cycle of 16 hours with a
photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of about 60μmol m-2 s -1 ( Strosse et al.,2003). It was
ensured that the temperature does not go over 28 oC by using automated air conditioners.
Continuous monitoring was being done each week for two weeks.
Some explants had started to show signs of growth and others were contaminated by fungal
and bacterial growth. The contaminated explants were discarded while the successful ones
advanced to the next steps.
Sub-culturing.
The tissues which successfully showed growth were cleaned off the phenolics and damaged
tissues, then cut into two (longitudinally) with an aim of multiplying the number of plants to
get from the explants at the end of the experiment. Each new part was sub-cultured into a
fresh growth media.
The new sets were transferred to the growth chamber for growth. This process of sub-
culturing was repeated after two weeks so as to reduce congestion of the growing plantlets
(Baiyeri, et al., 2005).
The rooting process was not undertaken because experience has shown that in vitro roots
lack root hairs and are so fragile that they break during transfer and thus making this process
unjustifiable.
The plants instead were taken to the growth chamber for shoot development.
Shoot proliferation
This stage lasted for two weeks and the sole purpose was for the explants to develop shoots.
Monitoring was the main activity in this stage since the environment in the growth room
was suitable enough for this process and needed no adjustments (well-lit area at 26 ± 2°C, in
a light cycle of 16 hours with a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of about 60μmol m-2 s -1).
Figure 1. Explants at the shoot proliferation stage in the growth room
Hardening off
The plants were transferred to the green house and left in shade for 3 to 6 days where
diffused
natural light conditioned them to the new environment. They were then removed from the
agar,
separated as individual plants and potted in peat.
Results
For the first sub culturing, ¼ of the total sample (10 tubes) showed signs of growth and were
advanced to the next stage of growth. For the second sub culturing process, ¾ of the
explants showed growth (15) and these are the ones that matured to plantlets.
Out of the 30 contaminated samples in the first phase of sub-culturing, 26 of them (0.864)
were fungal contaminated and 4 (0.136) were bacterial contaminated. In the second sub-
culturing, all the contaminated tubes exhibited fungal growth.
Discussion.
Basing on the results of this study, contamination is the most deleterious factor in the tissue
culture process and the novelty of the whole procedure entirely depends on how
contamination is controlled. Basing on the above results, Fungus is the major contaminating
factor.
This implies that much as the endogenous contamination needs to be attended to, external
sources of contamination should be given much more attention. Processes like sterilization
should be given more attention in terms of operation and resource allocation. It was also
observed that constant training of staff and use of experienced workers increased efficiency.
This was observed when contamination losses reduced by three quarters in the second sub
culturing as compared to the first sub culturing as a result of the team being acquainted with
the tissue culture procedures (as shown by the box plot).
Conclusion
In vitro propagation methods are gaining potency globally and notably in Africa. Suffice to
say that the understanding of their detailed processes and procedures is paramount in
developing of techniques that are adaptable and suitable for the idiosyncratic local African
agricultural setting in pursuit of boosting the current food security levels and making
commercialization of agriculture a success.
Procedures for vanilla and Irish potato tissue culturing
Macadamia growing in royal plants and nurseries

Macadamia is a genus of four species of trees in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. They
are indigenous to Australia, native to northeastern New South Wales and central and
southeastern Queensland specifically. Two species of the genus are commercially important
for their fruit, the macadamia nut /ˌmækəˈdeɪmiə/ (or simply macadamia). Global production
in 2015 was 160,000 tonnes (180,000 short tons). Other names include Queensland nut, bush
nut, maroochi nut, bauple nut and, in the US, they are also known as Hawaii nut. It was an
important source of bushfood for the Aboriginal peoples.

Fresh macadamia nut with husk or pericarp cut in half

Macadamia nut in its shell and a roasted nut

Macadamia nut with sawn nutshell and special key used to

pry open the nut

The nut was first commercially produced on a wide scale in Hawaii, where Australian seeds
were introduced in the 1880s, and for some time, they were the world's largest producer.
South Africa has been the world's largest producer of the macadamia since the 2010s. The
macadamia species have been gotten from Kenya and each seedling goes for 10000 where the
government pays 70% of each seedling as they want to promote growth of macadamia.

Species
Image Scientific Name Distribution

Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & south east Queensland and northern New
Betche South Wales

Macadamia jansenii C.L.Gross & Queensland

P.H.Weston

Macadamia ternifolia F.Muell. Queensland

Macadamia tetraphylla Queensland

L.A.S.Johnson

Cultivation
The macadamia tree is usually propagated by grafting and does not begin to produce
commercial quantities of seeds until it is 7–10 years old, but once established, it may
continue bearing for over 100 years. Macadamias prefer fertile, well-drained soils, a rainfall
of 1,000–2,000 mm (40–80 in), and temperatures not falling below 10 °C (50 °F) (although
once established, they can withstand light frosts), with an optimum temperature of 25 °C
(80 °F). The roots are shallow, and trees can be blown down in storms; like most Proteaceae,
they are also susceptible to Phytophthora root disease. As of 2019, the macadamia nut is the
most expensive nut in the world, which is attributed to the slow harvesting process

Macadamia Propagation: Tree-Starter Options

The macadamia does not produce true to seed, which means that while you may plant a ripe
kernel, it won’t produce a plant that’s exactly like the parent.

This is why commercial producers and nurseries who supply the public rely on cloning
techniques to reproduce quality traits.

Here is a brief introduction to various propagation methods:

Air Layered Cloning

Air layering involves wrapping stripped bark in a growing medium until roots form, and then
separating the new growth to plant on its own.

An air layered plant replicates the desirable traits and disease resistance of a parent plant.

The labour-intensive process that this type of cloning involves commands top dollar, but
gives you a jump start on the growing process.

Bud Grafting

Budding is a technique in which a “scion” with desirable traits, in this case a bud, is placed
into a slit in the branch of a host tree.

Here it establishes a root system, and at the appropriate time, the “nurse” branch is removed
and the new plant flourishes on its own.

This is a labour-intensive horticultural process that comes with a considerable price, for a
good head start.

Grafting a Cutting

Grafting is the process of inserting scions, in this case cuttings, with desirable characteristics
into sturdy rootstock.

A grafted plant offers the combination of a scion with predictable, sought-after characteristics
above ground, and sturdy, disease-resistant rootstock below. Usually a “heritage” tree is used,
like the ‘Hinde H2.’
It takes several years of excellent nursery care to be able to present an established, grafted
plant for sale, so it’s also an expensive option that puts you ahead of the game.

Rooting a Cutting

Another way to start a tree is with a cutting from a young branch. Placing it in a potting
medium enriched with a rooting hormone will encourage the wood to slowly grow roots.

Cuttings can be gathered to use for rooting or grafting.

Alternatively, you may use the cutting as a scion and graft it to sturdy rootstock.

Nurturing a Seedling

If you purchase a seedling, it will most likely be about six inches tall and have at least one set
of true leaves.
Keep in mind that seedlings like this have been started from seed, and as we’ve said, results
are unpredictable.

Sowing a Seed

You’ll find seed on the market, but again, results are questionable. You may also know where
there’s a macadamia tree ripe for harvest in your area.

Here’s how to start from seed:

Steps to Sprout a Macadamia Seed

1. If you have a freshly harvested nut, remove the outer husk to reveal the smooth,
brown shell. The seed is inside. It’s the part we usually eat. Plant it right away, or
place the nut in a container with some potting medium and sand, and store it in a cool,
dry place during unfavorable condition.
2. When the right time arrives, remove the nut and place it in water for two days to
encourage sprouting.
3. Prepare a well-draining sand bed at least a foot deep with a moisture-retaining potting
medium.
4. Make a hole in the potting medium that’s twice as deep as the kernel is thick.
5. Note the raised ridge on the kernel. Place the kernel in the hole with the ridge parallel
to the soil surface, or sideways. Cover loosely with soil.
6. Water well and maintain even moisture by watering deeply once a week. It will take
21 days for the seeds to germinate.
7. Place your potted seed on a seed-warming tray, or in a sunny window.
8. Be patient, as it may take a number of months about 6 months to achieve a viable
seedling.

Coffee propagation from cloning

Propagating a Coffee plant in 4 steps

Step 1: Disinfect

First clean the scissors you might be using.

Keep the scissors under hot water and clean them well. This prevents you from unnecessarily
transferring bacteria during the propagation.

Do you happen to have disinfectant or pure alcohol? Disinfect the tools after using hot water.
Let's get away with those bacteria and fungi!

Step 2: Take cuttings

Take off one or more stems of at least 15 cm. It's best to take more cuttings at once, because
not all cuttings will start to grow.

Step 3: Cuttings in soil

Put the cutting in a pot with fresh potting soil.

We recommend to use a plastic bag, that you wrap around the cutting and pot. The plastic bag
creates a humid environment, which can let the cutting grow faster.

Step 4: Taking care of the cutting

Place the cutting on a bright and warm spot. Avoid direct sunlight. Water the cuttings once
every two weeks. is important to regularly moist the leaves with a plant sprayer. As soon as
the cutting has roots of about 5 to 10 cm, you can remove the plastic bag and repot the
cutting.

Step-by-Step Guide to Grafting Your Avocado

Step 1: Select or grow your rootstock.

Step 2: Select your scion. When possible, use a scion that is of similar diameter to the
rootstock. Try to harvest the scion and complete your grafts on the same day. Between
harvesting and grafting, be sure to keep the scion wrapped to provide some moisture and
prevent drying.

Step 3: Remove the top (apical growing point) of the rootstock with a sharp, clean pair of
pruning shears.

Make sure the remaining rootstock is about 15 inches high, so that the graft union is far
enough off the soil surface but not so high that it might be prone to break in the wind

Step 4: Using a sharp, clean grafting knife, carefully make a cut across the center of the cut
surface of the rootstock. To do this, place the mid-point of the blade on the center of the cut
surface. With a slight rocking motion of the grafting knife or mild tapping on the top of the
knife, initiate the cut straight downward until the cut is about 1 inch deep. Carefully remove
your grafting knife when the cut depth is obtained.

Step 5: Now, holding the scion vertically with the buds (growing points) facing downwards,
pull the grafting knife upward and diagonally through the base of the scion in one smooth
motion. This will result in a slice that is approximately 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis.

Turn the scion 180 degrees and repeat the same motion on the other side. Redo each slice as
needed to achieve a

Step 6: Next, pair the rootstock and scion together. Gently push the scion into the cut on the
top of the rootstock. Match the outer edges of the scion with the outer edges of the rootstock
so that the scion is firmly wedged into the rootstock. Having the edges flush will help ensure
optimal take by having the cambium layers of the scion and rootstock in close and direct
contact.

Step 7: Wrap the graft tightly with a cut rubber band or grafting tape to hold the graft in
place. Avoid creating any airspaces where the scion and rootstock touch. Re-cut Step 5,
continued: Making the cut in the scion. Step 6: Placing the scion into the roots.

Step 7: Wrapping the graft with a rubber band.

Step 8: Wrapping the graft union and scion with parafilm. the scion or restart from step 4 if
an airspace is present and cannot be closed with the pressure of the rubber band
Step 8: Using a piece of parafilm, begin wrapping the scion from below the graft. Work your
way upwards and then back down again. Wrap the graft union and the entire scion piece until
they are completely covered to keep out potential pests and diseases from the cut surfaces.

Wrapping will also help to retain moisture in the scion until the graft is successful. Once a
union has formed, the rootstock will begin to provide water and nutrients to the scion

Step 9: After grafting, it is important to keep the grafted plant well-watered and in partial
shade. It will typically take around 4–6 weeks for the graft union to heal successfully, at
which time you will see new buds and growth pushing through the parafilm. You don’t need
to remove the parafilm, but you should remove the rubber band or grafting tape once the
scion is growing successfully.

Day 2
Kilembe mining area

Kilembe Mines is a copper and cobalt mine in Uganda, the third-largest economy in the East
African Community.

Location
The mine is located in Kilembe, a suburb of the town of Kasese, in the foothills of the
Rwenzori Mountains in the Western Region of Uganda the mine is approximately 380
kilometres (236 mi), by road, west of Kampala, the country's capital and largest city. The
coordinates of Kilembe Mines are:0°12'30.0"N, 30°00'25.0"E (Latitude:0.208333;
Longitude:30.006944)

History
In July 1950, two Canadian mining companies, Frosbisher Limited and Ventures Limited,
formed a joint venture, named Kilembe Mines Limited, whose objective was to mine copper
from under the Rwenzori Mountains near Kasese. Kilembe Mines Limited built and operated
a copper smelter in Jinja and maintained offices in Kampala, the country's capital. Other
assets include a housing estate for staff in Kasese and the 5MW Mubuku I Power Station in
the Rwenzori Mountains.
In 1962, Kilembe Mines Limited was acquired by Falconbridge of Africa, who sold it to the
Government of Uganda in 1975. Copper extraction ceased in 1982 due to dilapidated
equipment, high inflation and insecurity.

In 2013, after nearly 30 years of dormancy and after several failed attempts to privatize the
mine, a consortium led by Tibet-Hima Mining Company Limited, won the competitive bid to
manage, rehabilitate and operate Kilembe Mines Limited for 25 years from 2013 until 2038.
In exchange for those rights, the consortium paid a cash down payment of US$4.3 million
and is expected to make an annual payment of US$1 million until the end of the concession.
Also, the consortium will invest US$135 million into rehabilitating and improving the mine
and will increase the capacity of Mubuku I Power Station to 12MW. In addition to the cash
payments above, the Ugandan government will receive royalties on the minerals extracted as
well as taxes from Kilembe Mines Limited business operations.

It is about 36 years since the mining of copper at Kilembe Mines in Kasese district ended.
But up to now residents still suffer the consequences of pollution.

A recently released research shows that high levels of metal concentrates including copper,
cobalt, nickel, zinc and arsenic remain present in agricultural soils and public water sources.

Researchers from Makerere University believe that the minerals are causing danger not only
to the community but livestock and environment. Diseases like cancer and ulcers in the area
are attributed to the pollution that was caused by the mining.

Dr Abraham Mwesigye, an environmental toxicologist at the College of Agriculture and

Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, found that the mining in western Uganda from
1956 to 1982 left over 15 mountains of waste containing cupriferous and cobaltiferous pyrite
dumped within a mountain river valley.

According to the researcher, the waste water was not treated to remove heavy metal, thus
exposing the environment to contamination.

Untreated water has found itself into water bodies like Lake George and River Nyamwamba,
the main water sources in Kasese and areas around Mpondwe.

Mwesigye released his damning report on June 7 and explained that samples collected from
soil, water, foods, forage, sediments and toe nails from local volunteers were analysed at the
school of biosciences, Nottingham University, UK.

They found high levels of copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, arsenic and lead in the soils, water
sources, house dust and river sediments.

Beans, yams, cassava, sweet potatoes, maize, ground nuts, bananas and Amaranthus
vegetables appeared to be accumulating the metals beyond acceptable thresholds for human
consumption.
The report further indicates the source of contamination as mine tailings and underground
mine water. Aluminium, copper and iron were more abundant in public water sources, he
said.

“The food crops and forage grown in these areas contains significantly higher concentrations
of copper, cobalt, zinc, possibly taken up during growth and accumulated in the foods, which
could lead to consumption of the same elements by local people,” he said.

“We [carried out] tests on human nails from Kilembe area and it confirmed that children
ignorantly play in dangerous areas that expose them more than adults to the mine metals,
especially copper, cobalt and nickel.”

Effects on man

The consumption of food contaminated with metals can cause cancer, gastro-intestinal
complications, a decrease of immunological defenses, physical and mental disabilities and
retardation.

The large amounts of soil metals could affect soil productivity. Drinking water is
contaminated mainly with cobalt, iron, aluminium and manganese, which exposes the people
to heavy metal poisoning.

The dust in peoples’ homes and public buildings especially along the River Nyamwamba
valley and downhill of tailing sites could be inhaled or accidentally ingested.

With forage containing large amounts of copper and zinc, these elements could affect animal
health and the quality of milk and beef produced in the Kilembe area.

Techniques for regeneration of kilembe mines deposit

Phytoremediation

The definition of phytoremediation is the technology that utilizes green plants for the
detoxification of pollutants from soil, water, and air components of the environment. With an
unprecedented acceleration in human-influenced activities, restoration of degraded lands,
rejuvenation of water bodies, and purification of air, it is the need of the hour. The sources of
such pollutants include effluents from industries, acid-mine drainage, and chemical fertilizers
from agricultural practices that contribute to — but are not limited to — heavy metal, volatile
organic compound, oxides of nitrogen, and sulphur pollution.

Types of phytoremediation

 Phytodegradation
 Phyto stabilization
 Phytoextraction(phytoaccumulation)

 Rhizofiltration
 Phytovolatization

Phytodegradation:
Certain plants have the capacity to take up and break down pollutants within plant tissues
through internal enzymatic activity.

In phytodegradation, organic pollutants are degraded directly, through the release of enzymes
from roots, or by metabolic activity inside plant tissues.

Organic pollutants are taken up by roots and converted into plant tissues to less hazardous
compounds during phytodegradation.

The breakdown of pollutants taken up by plants through metabolic processes within the plant,
or the breakdown of toxins in the environment by the action of enzymes produced by the
plant, is known as phytodegradation.

Plants can develop enzymes that catalyse and speed up the degradation process. As a result,
organic pollutants are degraded into simpler molecular forms and incorporated into plant
tissues to promote plant growth.

Organic pollutants are broken down (degraded) by enzymes in plant roots. The fragments are
combined with new plant material to create a new plant.

Phyto stabilization:

Phyto stabilization is a method in which particular plant species are utilized to immobilize
pollutants in the soil and groundwater.

Chemical substances secreted by the plant immobilize pollutants rather than decompose them
in this process.

Within the root zone, they are prevented from migrating through the soil, as well as being
transported by erosion and deforestation.

It is effective in immobilizing water-soluble pollutants and preventing migration.

Phytoextraction (Phytoaccumulation):

Phytoextraction is the process of pollutant uptake/absorption and translocation by plant roots

into plant shoots, which can then be harvested and metabolized for energy and metal
recycling from the ash.

The rhizosphere of the plant roots absorbs the pollutants, as well as other nutrients and water,
during this process.

The pollutant is not detoxified and is instead stored in plant parts like shoots and leaves. This
approach is most commonly used for metal-based trash.

Water-soluble metals are taken up by plant species selected for their ability to absorb
significant amounts of lead (Pb).

Metals are stored in the plants’ aerial shoots, which are harvested and either produced for
possible metal recovery or discarded as hazardous waste.

Rhizofiltration:
Rhizofiltration is a type of phytoremediation that removes hazardous chemicals and excess
nutrients by filtering contaminated groundwater, surface water, and wastewater through a
mass of roots.

Rhizofiltration is similar to phyto-accumulation, except that the plants employed are

cultivated in greenhouses with their roots in water rather than soil.

Groundwater is drawn to the surface to irrigate these plants, and during that time, pollutants
are trapped in various parts of the plants.

A synthetic soil medium, like sand mixed with perlite or vermiculite, is typically used in
hydroponic systems.

The roots are gathered and disposed of as soon as they become contaminated.

Phytovolitilization:

Plants absorb water containing organic pollutants and release the impurities as volatile
components into the air through their leaves.

Phytovolatilization is defined as the uptake and removal of a pollutant by a plant, followed by

the release of the contaminant or a changed version of the contaminant into the atmosphere
by the plant during transpiration.

It occurs when growing trees and other plants absorb water, as well as toxins in the water.

At relatively low quantities, these pollutants travel through the plants to the leaves and
evaporate out into the atmosphere.

With the support of their root systems, plants also serve to physically stabilize the soil.

This also helps to minimize erosion, protect the soil surface, and reduce the environmental
impact.
Advantages of phytoremediation:

 Phytoremediation is cost-effective as it does not require any huge equipment.

 Planting trees on remediation sites makes the sites aesthetic.
 Plants can be easily grown without much effort.
 Because it utilizes naturally occurring organisms and protects the ecosystem in a more
natural condition, it has the potential to be the least destructive strategy.
 It protects the topsoil, ensuring the soil’s fertility.

 It improves soil health, yield, and phytochemicals in plants.

 No removal of biomass or hazardous material required.
 It avoids excavation and transport of contaminated mass, hence reducing the risk of
spreading contamination.
 It has potential to treat more than one type of pollutant at polluted sites.
 It does not require a disposal site.

Disadvantages of phytoremediation:

 Phytoremediation requires the growing conditions of plants such as climate,

temperature, altitude, etc.
 Success is dependent on the tolerance of plants to contaminants.
 Contaminants that are collected in woody tissues are used as fuel making the fumes
harmful.
 It only relocates hazardous heavy metals rather than removing them from the
environment.
 It is restricted to the roots’ surface area and depth.
 When taking up heavy metals, the metal might become bonded to the organic stuff in
the soil, making it impossible for the plant to remove.
 Development of extensive root-zone required-takes time.
 Sometimes, contaminants may be toxic to plants.
 Contaminants may enter the food chain and affect the ecological level of
organization.

 It is much slower than other mechanical methods.

Environmental monitoring at river nyamwamba

Environmental monitoring refers to the tools and techniques designed to observe an

environment, characterize its quality, and establish environmental parameters, for the
purpose of accurately quantifying the impact an activity has on an environment. Results are
gathered, analyzed statistically and then published in a risk assessment and environmental
monitoring and impact assessment report.

Main objective of carrying out environmental monitoring

The main objective of environmental monitoring is to manage and minimize the impact an
organization's activities have on an environment, either to ensure compliance with laws and
regulations or to mitigate risks of harmful effects on the natural environment and protect the
health of human beings.

Aspects of environment monitored

Air quality

Water quality

Soil quality

Water sampling

Tools used

Sampling net and buckets

Procedure for water sampling

Day 3

Genetically modified field trial of banana

Objective

aims to target malnourished populations in a more economically viable and sustainable way.

The field trial for genetically modified bananas is located in MbaZardi. It’s a project under
MbaZardi and bill and Melinda gate foundations. It’s a project started in 2009 and running up
to date. The modified banana varieties are super bananas which are enhanced with high levels
of pro-vitamin A which deficiency accounts for 19% of infant deaths.

The vitamin A gene was extracted from wild type banana Musa balbisiana which is rich in vitamin A.

Callus and agrobacterium were used for incorporating the vitamin A genes

The target of the gmo bananas is the western and the central region since most depends on
bananas.

The place for the trial is confined and distant from non gmo bananas by at least 18meters and
the place contains both gmo bananas and non gmo bananas.

Since they are under test, when ready the harvests are analyzed (organoleptic test) within the
confined place for different properties including vitamin A and then chopped into insuration
pit. The analysis is done in USA, Kawanda and cute.

The bananas have been tested on rats and monkeys and are safe
Vitamin A content for the local and gmo bananas

Banana type Local type Gmo type

Vitamin A content 3-6 mg/g of banana 63 mg/g of banana

Growth stage of the two banana varieties in CFT at MbaZardi

Banana type M9 banana Nakitembe

Maturity stage 4-6 months 3-4 months
Flowering stage 12-14 months 13-15 m0nths

Day 4

Grapevine and grape wine processing factory Mbarara