Accumulation and effects of sulfadimethoxine in Salix fragilis L. plants: a preliminary study to phytoremediation purposes

Int J Phytoremediation. 2012 Apr;14(4):388-402. doi: 10.1080/15226514.2011.620654.

Abstract

The application of manure to fertilize arable lands is one of the major means through which veterinary sulfonamides (SAs) enter the environment. Little is known about the capacity of woody plants to phytoremediate this class of antibiotics. To this purpose we performed preliminary studies to evaluate Salix fragilis L. response to sulfadimethoxine (SDM) by investigating both its ability to absorb and tolerate doses of SDM found in fresh faeces of treated calves. Forty cuttings were exposed to either 0, 0.5, 1, or 2 mM of SDM for one month. Decreases in photosynthetic electron transport rate and net CO2 assimilation after 25 days for the higher SDM concentrations were noticed. Moreover, alterations in root morphology of treated plants were observed and further investigated through electron microscopy. However, collected data revealed high root accumulation potential. These preliminary results are promising as they demonstrate that Salix fragilis L. can both absorb and tolerate high concentrations of SAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / metabolism*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / toxicity
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biomass
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
  • Cattle
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • Feces
  • Fluorescence
  • Manure
  • Photosynthesis
  • Plant Leaves / drug effects
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / anatomy & histology
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Stems / drug effects
  • Plant Stems / growth & development
  • Plant Stems / metabolism
  • Plant Transpiration
  • Salix / anatomy & histology
  • Salix / drug effects
  • Salix / growth & development
  • Salix / metabolism*
  • Soil Pollutants / metabolism*
  • Soil Pollutants / toxicity
  • Sulfadimethoxine / metabolism*
  • Sulfadimethoxine / toxicity
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Manure
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Chlorophyll
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Sulfadimethoxine