Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Differential effects of two explosive compounds on seed germination and seedling morphology of a woody shrub, Morella cerifera

  • Published:
Ecotoxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Soils contaminated with explosive compounds occur on a global scale. Research demolition explosive (RDX) (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) and trinitrotoluene (TNT) (2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene) are the most common explosive compounds in the environment. These compounds, by variably impacting plant health, can affect species establishment in contaminated areas. Our objective was to quantify comparative effects of RDX and TNT on a woody shrub, Morella cerifera, commonly found on bombing ranges along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Two life stages of M. cerifera, Seeds and juvenile plants, were exposed to soil amended with concentrations of RDX and TNT representative of field levels; RDX up to 1,500 ppm and TNT up to 900 ppm. Percent germination was recorded for 3 weeks; morphological metrics of necrotic, reduced, and curled leaves, in addition to shoot length and number measured at the end of the experiment (8 weeks) for juvenile plants. All concentrations of RDX inhibited seed germination while TNT did not have an effect at any concentration. As contaminant concentration increased, significant increases in seedling morphological damage occurred in the presence of RDX, whereas TNT did not affect seedling morphology at any concentration. Overall the plants were more sensitive to the presence of RDX. Species specific responses to explosive compounds in the soil have the potential to act as a physiological filter, altering plant recruitment and establishment. This filtering of species may have a number of large scale impacts including: altering species composition and ecological succession.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ait Ali N, Dewez D, Robidoux PY, Popovic R (2006) Photosynthetic parameters as indicators of trinitrotoluene (TNT) inhibitory effect: change in chlorophyll a fluorescence induction upon exposure of Lactuca sativa to TNT. Ecotoxicology 15:437–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali A, Zinnert JC, Balasubramaniam M, Yanhui P, Sang-Min C, Neal SC (2014) Physiological and transcriptional responses of Baccharis halimifolia to the explosive “composition B” (RDX/TNT) in amended soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-2764-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Best EPH, Geter KN, Tatem HE, Lane BK (2006) Effects, transfer, and fate of RDX from aged soil in plants and worms. Chemosphere 62:616–625

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Best EPH, Smith JC, Ringelberg DB (2009) Phytoremediation of composition-B derived TNT and RDX in herbaceous plant-vegetated and bare lysimeters. Retrieved from http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA529164

  • Brentner LB, Mukherji ST, Walsh SA, Schnoor JL (2010) Localization of hexahydro-1, 3, 5-trinitro-1, 3, 5-triazine (RDX) and 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in poplar and switchgrass plants using phosphor imager autoradiography. Environ Pollut 158:470–475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruce N, Williams R (2000) The role of nitrate ester reductase enzymes in the biodegradation of explosives. In: Biodegradation of nitroaromatic compounds and explosives. CRC Press. doi:10.1201/9781420032673.ch7

  • Burken JG, Shanks JV, Thompson PL (2000) Phytoremediation and plant metabolism of explosives and nitroaromatic compounds. In: Spain JC, Hughes JB, Knackmuss HJ (eds) Biodegradation of nitroaromatic compounds and explosives. CRC Press, Bocaraton, pp 239–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Frolich D, Lau A (2012) New plant records from the Hawaiian Islands for 2010–2011. In: Evenhuis NL, Eldredge LG (eds) Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2011. Part II: plants. Bishop Mus Occas Pap 113: 27–54

  • Gong P, Fleischmann S, Wilke BM (1999) Soil-based phytotoxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to terrestrial higher plants. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 36:152–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holl KD (2002) Long-term vegetation recovery on reclaimed coal surface mines in the eastern USA. J Appl Ecol 39:960–970

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khatisashvili G, Gordeziani M, Adamia G, Kvesitadze E, Sadunishvili T, Kvesidatze G (2009) Higher plants ability to assimilate explosives. World Acad Sci 57:265–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan G, Hors GL, Darnell S, Powers WL (2000) Growth and development of smooth bromegrass and tall fescue in TNT-contaminated soil. Environ Pollut 107:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naumann JC, Anderson JE, Young DR (2010) Remote detection of plant physiological responses to TNT soil contamination. Plant Soil 329:239–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panz K, Miksch K (2012) Phytoremediation of explosives (TNT, RDX, HMX) by wild-type and transgenic plants. J Environ Manage 113:85–92. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.08.016

  • Paterson S, Mackay D, Tam D, Shiu WY (1990) Uptake of organic chemicals by plants: a review of processes, correlations and models. Chemosphere 21:297–331

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pennington JC, Brannon JM (2002) Environmental fate of explosives. Thermochim Acta 384:163–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson MM, Horst GL, Shea PJ, Comfort SD, Peterson RKD (1996) TNT and 4-amino-2, 6-dinitrotoluene influence on germination and early seedling development of tall fescue. Environ Pollut 93:57–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson MM, Horst GL, Shea PJ, Comfort SD (1998) Germination and seedling development of switchgrass and smooth bromegrass exposed to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. Environ Pollut 99:53–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pichtel J (2012) Distribution and fate of military explosives and propellants in soil: a review. Applied and Environ Soil Sci 2012:1–33 Article ID 617236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pilon-Smits E (2005) Phytoremediation. Annu Rev Plant Biol 56:15–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rocheleau S, Martel M, Bardai G, Sarrazin M, Dodard S, Paquet L, Corriveau A, Hawari J, Gong P, Sunahara GI (2005) Toxicity of nitro-heterocyclic and nitroaromatic energetic materials to terrestrial plants in a natural sandy loam soil. Biotechnology Research Institute, Arlington

    Google Scholar 

  • Rylott EL, Bruce NC (2008) Plants disarm soil: engineering plants for the phytoremediation of explosives. Trends Biotechnol 27:73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rylott EL, Bruce NC (2011) Biodegradation and biotransformation of explosives. Curr Opin Biotechnol 22:434–440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sande E, Young D (1992) Effect of sodium chloride on growth and nitrogenase activity in seedlings of Myrica cerifera L. New Phytol 120:345–350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheidemann P, Klunk A, Sens C, Werner D (1998) Species dependent uptake and tolerance of nitroaromatic compounds by higher plants. J Plant Physiol 152:242–247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider K, Oltmanns J, Radenberg T, Schneider T, Pauly-Mundegar D (1996) Uptake of nitroaromatic compounds in plants: implications for risk assessment of ammunition sites. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 3:135–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sens C, Scheidemann P, Werner D (1999) The distribution of 14C-TNT in different biochemical compartments of the monocotyledonous Triticum aestivum. Environ Pollut 104:113–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson PL, Ramer LA, Guffey AP, Schnoor JL (1998) Decreased transpiration in poplar trees exposed to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. Environ Toxicol Chem 17(5):902–906. doi:10.1002/etc.5620170519

  • UNICEF (1995) Land mines: hidden killers. http://www.unicef.org/sowc96pk/hidekill.htm. Accessed 10 Oct 2011

  • Van Aken B, Yoon JM, Just CL, Schnoor JL (2004) Metabolism and Mineralization of Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine Inside Poplar Tissues (Populus deltoides × nigra DN-34). Environ Sci Technol 38:4572–4579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanek T, Nepovim A, Podlipna R, Hebner A, Vavrikova Z, Gerth A, Thomas H, Smrcek S (2006) Phytoremediation of explosives in toxic wastes. In: Twarowska I, Allen HE, Häggblom MM, Stefaniak S (eds) Soil and water pollution monitoring protection and remediation. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 3–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Via SM, Zinnert JC, Butler AD, Young DR (2014) Comparative physiological responses of Morella cerifera to RDX, TNT, and composition B contaminated soils. Environ Exp Bot 99:67–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vila M, Lorber-Pascal S, Laurent F (2008) Phytotoxicity to and uptake of TNT by rice. Environ Geochem Hlth 30(2):199–203. doi:10.1007/s10653-008-9145-1

  • Vila M, Mahier S, Lorber-Pascal S, Laurent F (2007) Fate of RDX and TNT in agronomic plants. Environ Pollut 148:148–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winfield LE, Rodgers JH, D’Surney SJ (2004) The response of selected terrestrial plants to short (<12 days) and long term (2, 4, and 6 weeks) hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) exposure Part 1: growth and developmental effects. Ecotoxicology 13:335–347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woodwell GM, Oosting JK (1965) Effects of chronic gamma irradiation on the development of old field plant communities. Radiat Bot 5:205–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon MJ, Oliver JD, Shanks JV (2005) Plant transformation pathways of energetic materials (RDX, TNT, DNTs). In: Eaglesham A, Bessin R, Trigiano R, Hardy RWT (eds) Agricultural biotechnology: beyond food and energy to health and the environment. National agricultural biotechnology council report 17. National Agricultural Biotechnology Council, New York, pp 103–116

  • Young JA, Young CG (2009) Seeds of woody plants in North America. Timber Press, Portland

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (2010) Biostatistical analysis, 5th edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinnert JC (2012) Plants as phytosensors: physiological responses of a woody plant in response to RDX exposure and potential for remote detection. Int J Plant Sci 173:1005–1014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was support by a grant to DRY from the United States Army Research Office. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments to improve this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Stephen M. Via, Julie C. Zinnert & Donald R. Young

Authors
  1. Stephen M. Via
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julie C. Zinnert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Donald R. Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie C. Zinnert.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Via, S.M., Zinnert, J.C. & Young, D.R. Differential effects of two explosive compounds on seed germination and seedling morphology of a woody shrub, Morella cerifera . Ecotoxicology 24, 194–201 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1372-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1372-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation