Advanced Search
Phytotoxicity of atrazine to Acorus calamus L.
Received:March 09, 2016  
View Full Text  View/Add Comment  Download reader
KeyWord:atrazine;Acorus calamus L.;physiological index;water pollution;sterile condition;tolerance
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
LI Cui Beijing Research & Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China  
WEN Hai-feng Beijing Research & Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China  
ZHENG Rui-lun Beijing Research & Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China  
CHEN Jie Beijing Research & Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China  
MA Xue-ju Beijing Research & Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China  
WANG Qing-hai Beijing Research & Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China qinghaiw@sina.com 
Hits: 2366
Download times: 2200
Abstract:
      Long term applications of atrazine have resulted in water and soil contamination. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was designed to assess the toxicity of atrazine to emergent macrophyte Acorus calamus L., by measuring chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, maximal photochemical efficiency(Fv/Fm), malondialdehyde(MDA) content, peroxidase(POD), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities under unsterile and sterile conditions. In unsterile treatment, plant chlorophyll content in leaves reduced with increases in atrazine concentrations and cultivation time. Chlorophyll a/b ratio had no significant difference compared with that of the control during the entire cultivation period. MDA content increased initially and then decreased with the prolongation of cultivate time. After 5-week exposure, MDA content had no significant differences between atrazine treatment groups at concentrations less than 2 mg·L-1, as compared with control. Fv/Fm ratio reduced with increasing atrazine concentrations, but no significant difference was found between 0.5 mg·L-1 treatment and the control. It, however, recovered to the control's level after the 5th week exposure. Under sterile condition, chlorophyll content and Fv/Fm decreased significantly compared with those in unsterile condition within 1-week exposure. Such significant difference in Fv/Fm still existed at atrazine level above 1 mg·L-1 under 4- and 5-week exposures. During the whole experimental period, Fv/Fm ratio was significantly lower in atrazine treatments than in the control when atrazine concentration exceeded 2 mg·L-1 under sterile condition. Acorus calamus L. was highly tolerant to atrazine stress and microorganism in the hydrophic system, to a certain extent, can alleviate the phytotoxicity of atrazine stress.