Effect of organic matter additions on uptake of weathered DDT by Cucurbita pepo ssp. pepo cv. Howden

Int J Phytoremediation. 2010 Apr-Jun;12(4):404-17. doi: 10.1080/15226510903051773.

Abstract

Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess the impact of organic matter additions on plant uptake of DDT [2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane] from weathered soil. Cucurbita pepo ssp. pepo cv. Howden pumpkins were grown in 100 g of DDT contaminated soil ([DDT] - 1100 ng/g) mixed with equal volumes of either clean soil, perlite, vermiculite, peat, potting soil, or granular activated carbon (GAC) to give total organic carbon contents of 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 11.5%, 12.2%, and 27.3%, respectively. As in other studies, root DDT concentrations were significantly lower in soils with high organic matter. Root bioaccumulation factors (BAF = [DDT]root/[DDT]soil) approximated this trend. Root concentrations correlated with organic matter concentrations and not with soil DDT concentrations. Conversely, shoot DDT concentrations, shoot BAFs and translocation factors (TLF = BAF(shoot)/BAF(root)) were not significantly different between treatment groups, except for plants grown in GAC/DDT soil. This suggests that amendments with a range of organic matter contents may be added to improve soil conditions at industrial sites without significant adverse effects on phytoextraction potential of C. pepo ssp. pepo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental / drug effects
  • Cucurbita / drug effects*
  • Cucurbita / metabolism*
  • DDT / isolation & purification*
  • Organic Chemicals / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / anatomy & histology
  • Plant Leaves / drug effects
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Shoots / anatomy & histology
  • Plant Shoots / drug effects
  • Plant Shoots / metabolism
  • Regression Analysis

Substances

  • Organic Chemicals
  • DDT