Effect of polluted water from Butuanon River on the roots of Allium cepa.

         The research performed aimed to determine the effect of heavily polluted water from Butuanon River on the roots of Allium cepa. Specifically, the study determined the mean root lengths and mean number of roots of A. cepa among the four groups along with the significant difference of root number and root length between experimental and control groups. Three groups come from three selected areas of Butuanon Riverbank namely factory area, uninhabited area, and populated area. The fourth group was the control group comprised of tap water only. A sample of fourteen (14) onion bulb replicates per group was used to determine the effects of the water along with the use of sample size formula for two-sample comparison of means. Onion bulbs were fitted in water-filled plastic bottles, first with tap water for five days and during that five days, the researchers measured the roots and their number. After the first five days for the control group, the researchers then changed the tap water with water coming from the three selected areas from the Butuanon riverbank namely: factory area, uninhabited area and populated area. In a span of ten days using the newly changed water, the researchers measured the root length and number of roots. The experiment was done at Cebu Doctors' University's Biology Laboratory at Mandaue City, Cebu.

          After ten days, the researchers found out that among the groups the A. cepa grown using water coming from the factory area showed the least mean number of roots and least mean length having 26.93 and SD 6.60mm respectively. The onions tested with water from the populated area was the second shortest length of roots (7.71mm) followed by uninhabited area (7.84mm) and with tap water (9.95) having the highest. The tap water results had the second least root number (41.36), followed by uninhabited area (41.86) and populated area with the highest number of roots (45.71). The researchers also found out that there is a significant difference in the root length and root number across the water sample group.

        Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that the water coming from Butuanon River does affect A. cepa in terms of root length and root growth. In conducting future experiments, the use of microtome as in instructional and cutting secrets is advised in during histological analysis includes mitotic index and Chromosomal aberrations. Substances that affect the root length, branch root growth and measurement of root growth are recommended as future topics. Another variation could be the use of soil in growing the plants treated with the river water coming from the three areas mentioned in this study. Further research should include answers as to the possible effects of the pollutants when tap water is replaced to polluted water samples.