Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2011, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (2): 223-231.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00223

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of atrazine residue in water on biomass and physiological characteristics of Scirpus tabernaemontani

WANG Qing-Hai1,*(), ZHANG Wei1,2, QUE Xiao-E3, WU Ju-Ying1, ZHANG Guo-An2, XIAO Bo1   

  1. 1Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
    2College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
    3Institute of Desertification Studies of Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
  • Received:2010-03-22 Accepted:2010-11-16 Online:2011-03-22 Published:2011-01-21

Abstract:

Aims Our objective was to assess the phytotoxicity of atrazine residue in water on the emergent aquatic plant Scirpus tabernaemontani.
Methods We conducted hydroponics experiments to study the effects of atrazine stress on peroxidase (POD) and root activities, malonaldehyde (MDA) and chlorophyll contents, relative water content (RWC) of leaf and fresh weight of S. tabernaemontani. The original dosages of atrazine in the culture solution based on Hoagland solution were 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg·L-1. Plant samples were collected 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after the onset of the experiment.
Important findings POD and root activities, chlorophyll content, RWC and fresh weight of S. tabernaemontani decreased, and MDA contents increased. All results indicated that elevated concentration of atrazine (>8 mg·L-1) has significant effects on biomass and physiological characteristics of S. tabernaemontani. With the exception of chlorophyll contents, the harmful effects weakened with prolonged treatment exposure due to degradation of atrazine. There were no significant differences in investigated variables between the 1 mg·L -1 atrazine treatment and the control during the growing season.

Key words: atrazine, biomass, physiological characteristic, Scirpus tabernaemontani