Phytotoxicity and oxidative effects of typical quaternary ammonium compounds on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The large-scale use of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) in medicines or disinfectants can lead to their release into the environment, posing a...     

Bioaccumulation of lanthanum and cerium and their effects on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

Through short-term exposure (7-d exposure), long-term exposure (16-d exposure) and exposure-recovery (7-d exposure + 9-d recovery), the bioaccumulation and distribution of La and Ce and their effects on growth of wheat seedlings were studied. Addition of La (0.5-25 mg/l) and Ce (0.5-25 mg/l) to the culture medium individually and in combination inhibited primary root elongation, reduced the dry weight of roots and shoots and the content of mineral elements (Ca, Mg, K, Cu, Zn). The damage increased with an increase in the concentrations of La and Ce in culture medium. Relative damage ratio increased with an increase in concentrations of La and Ce in the culture medium and with exposure time. Comparing exposure-recovery groups with long-term exposure groups, primary root lengths, dry weight of roots and shoots and the content of five mineral elements were higher. The accumulation of La and Ce in the seedlings was positively correlated with the concentrations of La and Ce in the culture medium and with exposure time. Bioaccumulation factors of La and Ce in roots were much higher than those of shoots. The uptake rates of La and Ce by the plants were much higher than the translocation rates from roots to shoots. The accumulation and distribution of La and Ce in the seedlings in exposure-recovery groups showed that there was very little excretion through metabolism during the recovery period, but redistribution occurred throughout the whole plant. No apparent selective uptake was found between La and Ce by the plants when they were applied in combination.     

Zinc and copper uptake by plants under two transpiration rates. Part I. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

To evaluate the environmental risk of irrigating crops with treated wastewater, an experiment was conducted using two growth chambers, each offering a different vapour pressure deficit (VPD) for high and low transpiration rates (TR), respectively. One of the two sets of 24 pots planted with 6 week old wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was placed in each growth chamber, and irrigated in triplicates for 20 days with 8 Zn and Cu solutions (0 and 25 mg Zn/L combined with 0, 5, 15 and 30 mg Cu/L). Water losses from planted and non-planted pots served to measure evapo-transpiration and evaporation, respectively. Pots were monitored for Cu and Zn uptake by collecting three plants (shoot and grain)/pots after 0, 10 and 20 days, and roots in each pot after 20 days, and analyzing these plant parts for dry mass, and Cu and Zn levels. Transpiration rate was not affected by any Cu/Zn treatment, but Cu and Zn uptake increase with the time, irrigation solution level and higher TR, with the roots retaining most Cu and Zn, compared to the shoot followed by the grain. For the shoot and grain, Cu had a significant synergetic effect on Zn uptake, when Zn had slight but insignificant antagonistic effects on Cu uptake. For the roots, Cu and Zn had significant synergetic effect on each other. Regression equations obtained from the data indicate that Cu and Zn levels normally found in treated wastewater (0.08 mg/L) are 300 times lower than those used for the most concentrated experimental solutions (30 and 25 mg/L, respectively) and may, on a long term basis, be beneficial rather than toxic to wheat plants and do not acidify soil pH.     

The effects of lead-resistant pseudomonads on the growth of Triticum Aestivum seedlings under lead stress

Five Pseudomonad strains, SPb-1, SPb-2, SPb-3, (from a water sample), SPb-4, and SPb-5 (from rhizosphere), which could tolerate lead acetate up to 1000 microm ml(-1), were isolated from an industrially polluted area around Kasoor, Pakistan. Only SPb-5 harbours a lead-resistant plasmid. Triticum aestivum seeds inoculated with strains SPb-4 and SPb-5 were germinated and grown under different concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mM) of lead acetate for ten days. Germination and seedling growth were adversely affected. Poor growth was associated with increased lead content of seedlings. With bacterial inoculation, germination and seedling growth were improved, as compared with non-inoculated treatments. Stimulation in the growth of seedlings was accompanied by a decrease in lead content, as compared with non-inoculated treatments.     

Cytogenotoxic activity of herbicidal and fungicidal pesticides on Triticum aestivum root meristem

Phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of pesticides with various mechanisms of targeted activity were studied in a hydroponic culture of 2-day-old seedlings of Triticum aestivum. All studied pesticides (with the exception of metribuzin) exhibited dose-dependent phytotoxicity (inhibited the growth of the main root and reduced the yield of root biomass). All studied pesticides did not affect mitotic index in the root apex meristem but did affect the duration of some phases of mitosis. Herbicides increased, while fungicides, on the contrary, decreased the duration of the cytokinesis phase. All pesticides (1 μg/mL) exhibited genotoxic activity: in the root apex meristem the number of cells with mitotic abnormalities was significantly higher than in the control variant (7–14 times). The genotoxic activity of metribuzin and tebuconazole was 2 times lower than for tribenuron-methyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, epoxiconazole and azoxystrobin. The genotoxicity of the studied pesticides was combined: depending on the class of the pesticide, clastogenic or aneugenous effects dominated.

     

Joint stress of chlorimuron-ethyl and cadmium on wheat Triticum aestivum at biochemical levels

Biochemical responses to joint stress of chlorimuron-ethyl and cadmium (Cd) in wheat Triticum aestivum were examined. The joint action of chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd weakened the inhibition of Cd or chlorimuron-ethyl on the formation of chlorophyll. It was deduced that wheat plants had the capability to protect themselves by increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzyme peroxidase (POD) with the exposure time. The joint effect of chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd on the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in leaves was additive, while the joint effect on the SOD activity in roots was determined by the interaction of chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd in wheat. It was also concluded that the change of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in wheat might not be a good biomarker in the oxidative damage by chlorimuron-ethyl, while a decrease in the soluble protein content and POD activity in roots could be considered as a biomarker in the damage of wheat by chlorimuron-ethyl and Cd.     

Response of two cultivars of Triticum aestivum L. to simulated acid rain

The present experiment was aimed at assessing the impact of simulated acidic precipitation (SAR) on growth, biomass accumulation and yield of two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Malviya 206 and 234, varying in cuticular thickness and leaf area. Wheat cultivars were exposed to simulated rain acidified to pH 5.6 (control), 5.0, 4.5, 4.0 and 3.0 from 30 days of age, twice a week for five weeks. The plants received ambient precipitation of unknown acidity, as well as the acid rain treatments. Growth parameters such as shoot height, root length, and leaf area were reduced significantly in treated plants at different growth stages. Above and below-ground biomass also decreased significantly in the plants treated with acidic precipitation. Relative to control, the number of grains per plant and yield per m(2) declined significantly at all SAR treatments. The hypothesis that the variety with thinner cuticle and greater leaf area would be more susceptible to acidic precipitation was not supported by the present study.     

Growth and yield responses of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Minaret) to elevated CO2 and water limitation

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Minaret) was grown at two different CO2 concentrations (367 and 650 micromol mol(-1)) in open-top-chambers from sowing until final harvest. Furthermore two different watering treatments (well watered and water stressed) and two soil types of different fertility were used. At final harvest, which took place at growth stage 92, plants were separated into different fractions. Elevated atmospheric CO2 caused an accelerated chlorophyll-a breakdown and increased growth and yield. Total shoot biomass was enhanced by 43%, grain yield by 46% and main stem yield by 19%. Water stress also accelerated chlorophyll-a breakdown but reduced total shoot biomass by 40%, grain yield by 45%, main stem yield by 30% and thousand grain weight by 6%. On average, soil fertility altered shoot biomass by 30%, grain yield by 39% and main stem yield by 25%.     

Arsenate (As) uptake by and distribution in two cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Two cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Jing 411 and Lovrin 10) were used to investigate arsenate (As) uptake and distribution in plants grown in hydroponic culture and in the soil. Results showed that without As addition, Lovrin 10 had higher biomass than Jing 411 in the soil pot experiment; in the hydroponic experiment Lovrin 10 had similar root biomass to and lower shoot biomass than Jing 411. Increasing P supply from 32 to 161 microM resulted in lower tissue As concentrations, and increasing As supply from 0 to 2,000 microM resulted in lower tissue P concentrations. Increasing P supply tended to increase shoot-to-root ratios of As concentrations, and increasing As supply tended to decrease shoot-to-root ratios of As concentrations. Both cultivars invested more in root production under P deficient conditions than under P sufficient conditions. Lovrin 10 invested more biomass production to roots than Jing 411, which might be partly responsible for higher shoot P and As concentrations and higher shoot-to-root ratios of As concentrations. Moreover, Lovrin 10 allocated less As to roots than Jing 411 and the difference disappeared with decreasing P supply.     

Biological responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants to the herbicide chlorotoluron in soils

Chlorotoluron is a phenylurea herbicide that is widely used for controlling grass weeds in the land of cereal, cotton and fruit production. However, extensive use of this herbicide may lead to its accumulation in ecosystems, thus inducing the toxicity to crops and vegetables. To assess chlorotoluron-induced toxicity in plants, we performed the experiment focusing on the metabolic adaptation of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) to the chlorotoluron-induced oxidative stress. The wheat plants were cultured in the soils with chlorotoluron at concentrations of 0-25mg/kg. Chlorotoluron accumulation in plants was positively correlated with the external chlorotoluron concentrations, but negatively with the plant growth. Treatment with chlorotoluron induced the accumulation of O(2)(-) and H(2)O(2) in leaves and resulted in the peroxidation of plasma membrane lipids in the plant. We measured the endogenous proline level and found that it accumulated significantly in chlorotoluron-exposed roots and leaves. To understand the biochemical responses to the herbicide, activities of the antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were assayed. Analysis of SOD activity by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) revealed that there were three isoforms in the roots and leaves, but the isoforms in the tissues showed different patterns. Also, using the native PAGE, 6 isoforms of root POD and 10 in leaves were detected. The total activity of POD in roots was significantly enhanced. Activities of APX in roots and leaves showed a similar pattern. The CAT activities were generally suppressed under the chlorotoluron exposure.     

Screening of Bangladeshi winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars for sensitivity to ozone

The sensitivity to ozone of ten Bangladeshi wheat cultivars was tested by exposing plants to eight ozone exposure regimes (50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 135, 150, and 200 ppb for 14, 11, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 1 days, respectively, for 8 h/day) in controlled environment chambers. Visible leaf injury, dry weight, chlorophyll, carotenoid content, leaf greenness (SPAD value), quantum yield of photosynthesis, and stomatal resistance were measured to evaluate response. Shoot biomass, total chlorophyll, leaf greenness, and carotenoid content were reduced in ozone-exposed plants. Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA)-biplot analysis, the order of sensitivity to ozone was: Akbar?>>?Sufi?≥?Bijoy?≥?Shatabdi?>?Bari-26?≥?Gourab?>?Bari-25?≥?Prodip?≥?Sourav?>>?Kanchan. The most important parameters to discriminate cultivars with respect to ozone sensitivity were visible injury and chlorophyll b/a ratio, whereas quantum yield of photosynthesis was less important. Differences in stomatal resistance were not a significant factor in ozone response. Regression of cultivars’ PCA scores against year of release revealed no trend, suggesting that ozone tolerance was not incorporated during cultivar breeding.     

Growth and yield responses of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. CV. Turbo) grown in open-top chambers to ozone and water stress

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Turbo was exposed to different levels of ozone and water supply in open-top chambers in 1991. The plants were grown either in charcoal filtered air (CF), not filtered air (NF), in charcoal filtered air with proportional addition of ambient ozone (CF1), or in charcoal filtered air with twice proportional addition of ambient ozone (CF2). The mean seasonal ozone concentrations (24 h mean) were 2.3, 20.6, 17.3, and 24.5 nl litre(-1) for CF, NF, CF1, and CF2 treatments, respectively. Ozone enhanced senescence and reduced growth and yield of the wheat plants. At final harvest, dry weight reductions were mainly due to reductions in ear weight. Grain yield loss by ozone mainly resulted from depressions of 1000 grain weight, whereas numbers of ears per plant and of grains per ear remained unchanged. Pollutants other than ozone did not alter the response to ozone, as was obvious from comparisons between CF1 and NF responses. Water stress alone did not enhance senescence, but also reduced growth and yield. However, yield loss mainly resulted from reductions in the number of ears per plant; 1000 grain weight was not influenced by water stress. No water supply by ozone treatment interactions were detected for any of the estimated parameters.     

Effects of exogenous organic chelators on phytochelatins production and its relationship with cadmium toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under cadmium stress

Phytochelatins (PCs) have been proposed as a potential biomarker for metal toxicity. In this study, cadmium (Cd) toxicity, PCs production and their relationship in wheat under Cd stress were examined using various exogenous organic chelator-buffered nutrient solutions. Single Cd stress produced strong toxic effects, as indicated by decreases of growth parameters, high level of lipid peroxidation in leaf and overproduction of PCs in root. Exogenous organic chelators with proper dose more or less reduced Cd toxicity by increasing growth parameters and decreasing lipid peroxidation in leaves. Of organic chelators (EDTA, DTPA, citric acid, malic acid and oxalic acid), EDTA was the most effective in decreasing Cd toxicity in plants, followed by DTPA and citric acid. Simultaneously, the concentrations of Cd-induced PCs in roots decreased, and the greatest decrease was caused by application of EDTA and DTPA. Linearly positive relationships were observed between Cd toxicity and root PCs concentrations under the influences of organic chelators, particularly EDTA, DTPA and citric acid. Furthermore, present results provide stronger evidence that PCs synthesis in plant cells was related to free Cd ion concentrations, not total Cd, and demonstrate that the levels of PCs production in plants correlated well with toxic effects caused by the bioavailable Cd levels.     

Effects of aluminum on physiological metabolism and antioxidant system of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

We have found that rice bran effectively adsorbed chloroform from tap water. The amount of chloroform adsorbed was plotted against the equilibrium concentration of chloroform in solution on a logarithmic scale. A linear relationship was obtained, indicating that the adsorption reaction was a Freundlich type. The removal of chloroform by rice bran was attributed to the uptake into intracellular particles called spherosomes.     

Active carbon-pools in rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in a Typic Haplustept in sub-tropical India

Study on active and labile carbon-pools can serve as a clue for soil organic carbon dynamics on exposure to elevated level of CO2. Therefore, an experimental study was conducted in a Typic Haplustept in sub-tropical semi-arid India with wheat grown in open top chambers at ambient (370 micromol mol-1) and elevated (600 micromol mol-1) concentrations of atmospheric CO2. Elevated atmospheric CO2 caused increase in yield and carbon uptake by all plant parts, and their preferential partitioning to root. Increases in fresh root weight, volume and length have also been observed. Relative contribution of medium-sized root to total root length increased at the expense of very fine roots at elevated CO2 level. All active carbon-fractions gained due to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, and the order followed their relative labilities. All the C-pools have recorded a significant increase over initial status, and are expected to impart short-to-medium-term effect on soil carbon sequestration.     

Effects of tetrabromobisphenol A as an emerging pollutant on wheat (Triticum aestivum) at biochemical levels

Biochemical responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to the stress of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) as an emerging pollutant were examined. The results indicated that reduction of the chlorophyll (CHL) content in wheat leaves could be observed. However, the changes in the CHL content with the increasing TBBPA concentration from 50 to 5000 mg kg(-1) were insignificant (p>0.05). Increased malondialdehyde levels were detected in wheat leaves after both 7-d and 12-d exposures. The changes in the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD), peroxidases (POD) and catalases (CAT) in wheat leaves irregularly fluctuated with time as the TBBPA concentration increased. However, significant (p<0.05) decrease in the activity of POD and CAT treated with 500 and 5000 mg kg(-1) TBBPA could be observed. Our data also showed that the plant has the capacity to tolerate the oxidative stress, but the capacity would be lost with prolonged exposure and increasing TBBPA concentration. There were no dose-response effects in the changes between the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT) and the concentration of TBBPA. The decrease in the activity of POD and CAT could be considered as good biomarkers of serious stress by TBBPA in soil environment.     

Responses of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to ozone produced by either electric discharge and dry air or by UV-lamps and ambient air

The aim of the present study was to examine if ozone produced similar effects on spring wheat growth with and without small amounts of nitrogen oxides. Two methods were used to produce ozone: the first method consisted of dry pressurized air fed to an electric discharge generator generating the byproducts, N2O5 and N2O, the second method consisted of ambient air fed to UV-lamps. Two spring wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L. cvs Minaret and Eridano) were exposed in small open-top chambers to charcoal-filtered air, non-filtered ambient air, and non-filtered ambient air with the addition of ozone for 8 h (0900 to 1700 h) daily, for five weeks. Plants were harvested every week. The growth of Minaret was shown to be more sensitive to O3 than that of Eridano. Leaf senescence increased with increasing ozone level in both cultivars. The total above-ground biomass dry weight decreased with increasing ozone concentration in Minaret, but not in Eridano. The Minaret plants reacted with more damaged leaf dry weight and inhibition of growth when O3 was produced by UV-lamps than when O3 was produced by air fed to an electric discharge generator. This could be explained by more nitrogen content per plant but not by increased nitrogen concentration in plant tissue in plants exposed to increased O3 and small amounts of incidental nitrogen oxides.     

Exploring natural colorant behavior of husk of durum (Triticum durum Desf.) and bread (Triticum aestivum L.) wheat species for sustainable cotton fabric dyeing

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Revival of natural colorants in textile dyeing is one of the important strategies to reduce synthetic chemical-based environmental pollution. The...     

Protective role of a methanolic extract of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) against Pb toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings: beneficial effects for a plant of a nutraceutical used with animals

Spinach extracts contain powerful natural antioxidants and have been used to improve the response of animal cells to various stress factors. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a methanolic extract of spinach (SE) used at two concentrations (21.7 and 217 ppm) on the growth, certain enzymes and antioxidant systems in wheat seedlings under lead stress. When wheat seedlings were grown for 7 days in a solution containing Pb(NO₃)₂ (3 mM), germination and growth were impaired, while signs of oxidative stress were observed. SE (217 ppm) pretreatment was able to protect seedlings from Pb toxicity by both reducing Pb uptake and Pb-induced oxidative stress. As a consequence, almost normal germination, elongation, biomass and α-amylase activity were restored by SE (217 ppm) pretreatment of wheat seedlings, in spite of the presence of Pb. Our results support the protective role and the antioxidant effect of SE against Pb. These results show an amazing similarity to the effects of SE in animals, which suggests that providing “nutraceuticals” to plants could improve their “health” status.     

Uptake of 14C-atropine and/or its transformation products from soil by wheat (Triticum aestivum var Kronjet) and their translocation to shoots

Plant uptake of toxins and their translocation to edible plant parts are important processes in the transfer of contaminants into the food chain. Atropine, a highly toxic muscarine receptor antagonist produced by Solanacea species, is found in all plant tissues and can enter the soil and hence be available for uptake by crops. The absorption of atropine and/or its transformation products from soil by wheat (Triticum aestivum var Kronjet) and its distribution to shoots was investigated by growing wheat in soil spiked with unlabeled or ¹⁴C-labeled atropine. Radioactivity attributable to ¹⁴C-atropine and its transformation products was measurable in plants sampled at 15 d after sowing (DAS) and thereafter until the end of experiment. The highest accumulation of ¹⁴C-atropine and/or its transformation products by plants was detected in leaves (between 73 and 90% of the total accumulated) with lower amounts in stems, roots, and seeds (approximately 14%, 9%, and 3%, respectively). ¹⁴C-Atropine and/or its transformation products were detected in soil leachate at 30, 60, and 90 DAS and were strongly adsorbed to soil, with 60% of the applied dose adsorbed at 30 DAS, plateauing at 70% from 60 DAS. Unlabeled atropine was detected in shoots 30 DAS at a concentration of 3.9 ± 0.1 μg kg^?1 (mean ± SD). The observed bioconcentration factor was 2.3 ± 0.04. The results suggest a potential risk of atropine toxicity to consumers.