A Master's thesis in the Department of Ecology at the College of Science, University of Basra, investigated the morphological and physiological responses of Tagetes patula L. and Alcea kurdica (Schltdl.) Alef. plants exposed to petroleum hydrocarbon stress.

The thesis, submitted by student Asmaa Ibrahim Othman, aimed to define the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons on soil properties and on the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants, and to determine their response to pollution stress and the extent of petroleum hydrocarbon accumulation within them.

The thesis indicated that short-term oil pollution did not lead to a significant deterioration in soil properties.

The thesis concluded that there is qualitative variation in tolerance to hydrocarbon pollutants, with Alcea kurdica exhibiting the best tolerance.

The thesis recommended that plant selection be based on the type of pollution in order to improve phytoremediation strategies for hydrocarbon pollution.