Phytotoxicity of Chlorinated Aliphatics to Hybrid Poplar (Populus Deltoides × Nigra Dn34)

Abstract

Effects of a series of chlorinated ethenes and ethanes on hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides x nigra DN34) were assessed in laboratory experiments. Poplar cuttings were grown in sealed reactors with hydroponic solutions and were exposed to a chlorinated solvent for a period of two weeks. Exposure concentrations ranged from 0 to 0.4 mM for perchloroethylene to 0 to 8.4 mM for 1,1-dichloroethane. Effects were assessed by gravimetrically monitoring transpiration and measuring change in cutting mass. The zero-growth concentrations of the chemicals tested were 0.3 mM perchloroethylene, 0.9 mM trichloroethylene, 0.9 mM 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 2.0 mM 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 2.3 mM 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 4.8 mM trans-dichloroethylene, 5.6 mM 1,1-dichloroethylene, 6.0 mM cis-dichloroethylene, and 10.7 mM 1,1-dichloroethane. Adverse effects were found to increase with increasing number of chlorine atoms within a homologous series of ethenes or ethanes. Ethenes were more toxic than similarly chlorinated ethanes.

Phytoremediation of contaminated soils and groundwater: lessons from the field

“…Additional favorable traits are fast growth, easy propagation, and a deep root system. Some tree species, mainly willows (Salix) and poplars (Populus), exhibit these traits and are already used in phytoremediation programs, primarily for rhizofiltration and phytodegradation of organics in contaminated groundwater (Dietz and Schnoor 2001), but also for Cd phytoextraction from lightly polluted agricultural soils (Landberg and Greger 1994). Greger and Landberg (1999) demonstrated the rationale of this option in Sweden, namely: (1) willows are currently being grown on about 15,000 ha in this country as bioenergy source; (2) high Cd accumulators are identified among the Salix species (mainly from Salix viminalis); (3) the ashes contain ten times more Cd than the ashes from other forest trees; and (4) a method for Cd removal from the ashes is available (Westberg and Gromulski 1996).…”

Charge, Size, and Cellular Selectivity for Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes by Maize and Soybean

“…The effect of MWCNTs on maize and soybean was inferred by the rate and extent of transpiration and biomass growth, which is a reliable indicator of the relative health of plants grown under hydroponic conditions. 29 The concentration and charge of MWCNTs greatly influenced cumulative water transpiration and biomass growth of maize in the 18-day exposure ( Figure 1A,C). Specifically, MWCNTs stimulated maize growth.…”

Uptake and Phytotoxicity of TNT in Onion Plant

“…During these processes, the parent chemical may be transformed to nonphytotoxic metabolites, including lignin. [22] TNT phytotoxicity has been tested by its effects on seed germination, [18,20,21] growth rate, [18,21,23,24] chlorosis, [19] and transpiration. Earlier studies on TNT uptake from soil or from hydroponics have been done with duckweed, [15] yellow nutsedge, [16] tall fescue, [17] switchgrass and smooth bromegrass, [18] Myriophyllum spicatum (aquatic plant), [19] Canada blue grass and swamp meadow grass, [20] oat, wheat, cress, and turnip [21] and mixtures of plants.…”