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Phytotoxicity assessment of atrazine on growth and physiology of three emergent plants

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Abstract

The emergent plants Acorus calamus, Lythrum salicaria, and Scirpus tabernaemontani were exposed to atrazine for 15, 30, 45, and 60 days in a hydroponic system. Effects were evaluated investigating plant growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content, peroxidase (POD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Results showed that selected plants survived in culture solution with atrazine ≤8 mg L−1, but relative growth rates decreased significantly in the first 15-day exposure. Chla content decreased, but MDA increased with increasing atrazine concentration. S. tabernaemontani was the most insensitive species, followed by A. calamus and L.salicaria. The growth indicators exhibited significant changes in the early stage of atrazine exposure; subsequently, the negative impacts weakened and disappeared. Plant growth may be more representative of emergent plant fitness than physiological endpoints in toxicity assessment of herbicides to emergent plants.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (31370540) and National Key Technologies R&D Program of China (2012BAD14B02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, People’s Republic of China

    Qinghai Wang, Ruilun Zheng, Zuo Pang, Cui Li & Bo Xiao

  2. Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoe Que

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  1. Qinghai Wang
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  2. Xiaoe Que
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  3. Ruilun Zheng
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  4. Zuo Pang
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  5. Cui Li
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Correspondence to Qinghai Wang or Xiaoe Que.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Wang, Q., Que, X., Zheng, R. et al. Phytotoxicity assessment of atrazine on growth and physiology of three emergent plants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 9646–9657 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4104-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4104-8

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