Tolerance and remedial potential of trees submitted to atrazine and sulfentrazone in the rhizosphere

Sensitivity and antioxidant response of forest species seedlings to the atrazine under simulated conditions of subsurface water contamination

Atrazine is an herbicide with a high soil leaching capacity, contaminating subsurface water sources. Once the water table is contaminated, riparian species can be exposed to atrazine. In this way, understanding the impacts of this exposure must be evaluated for planning strategies that minimize the effects of this herbicide on native forest species. We aimed to evaluate forest species' sensitivity and antioxidant response to exposure to subsurface waters contaminated with atrazine, as well the dissipation this herbicide. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design, with three replications and one plant per experimental unit. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 10 factorial. The first factor corresponded to the presence or absence (control) of the atrazine in the subsurface water. The second factor comprised 10 forest species: Amburana cearensis, Anadenanthera macrocarpa, Bauhinia cheilantha, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Hymenaea courbaril, Libidibia ferrea, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Mimosa tenuiflora, Myracrodruon urundeuva, and Tabebuia aurea. The forest species studied showed different sensitivity levels to atrazine in subsurface water. A. cearensis and B. cheilantha species do not have efficient antioxidant systems to prevent severe oxidative damage. The species A. macrocarpa, E. contortisiliquum, L. ferrea, and M. caesalpiniifolia are moderately affected by atrazine. H. courbaril, M. urundeuva, and T. aurea showed greater tolerance to atrazine due to the action of the antioxidant system of these species, avoiding membrane degradation events linked to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Among the forest species, H. courbaril has the most significant remedial potential due to its greater tolerance and reduced atrazine concentrations in the soil.

Phytoremediation: A green and low-cost technology to remediate herbicides in the environment

Pesticide dependence is one of the main disadvantages of agriculture. Despite the advances in biological control and integrated management of plant pests and diseases in recent years, herbicides are still essential for weed control and constitute the main class of pesticides worldwide. Herbicide residues in water, soil, air, and non-target organisms are among the biggest agricultural and environmental sustainability obstacles. Therefore, we suggest an environmentally viable alternative to reduce the harmful effects of herbicide residues, a technology called phytoremediation. Remediating plants were grouped into herbaceous, arboreal, and aquatic macrophytes. Phytoremediation can reduce the loss of at least 50% of all herbicide residues to the environment. Among the herbaceous species reported as phytoremediators of herbicides, the Fabaceae family was mentioned in more than 50% of reports. This family is also among the main species of trees reported. Regarding the most reported groups of herbicides, it is observed that most of them, regardless of the group of plants, are triazines. Processes such as extraction or accumulation are the best known and reported for most herbicides. The phytoremediation may be effective against chronic or unknown herbicide toxicity. This tool can be included in proposals for management plans and specific legislation in countries, guaranteeing public policies to maintain environmental quality.

Sequencing and analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes of Toona sinensis and Toona ciliata reveal evolutionary features of Toona

BACKGROUND

Toona is a critical genus in the Meliaceae, and the plants of this group are an asset for both restorative and restorative purposes, the most flexible of which are Toona sinensis and Toona ciliata. To concentrate on the advancement of mitochondrial(Mt) genome variety in T.sinensis and T.ciliata, the Mt genomes of the two species were sequenced in high throughput independently, after de novo assembly and annotation to construct a Mt genome map for comparison in genome structure. Find their repetitive sequences and analyze them in comparison with the chloroplast genome, along with Maximum-likelihood(ML) phylogenetic analysis with 16 other relatives.

RESULTS

(1) T. sinensis and T.ciliata are both circular structures with lengths of 683482 bp and 68300 bp, respectively. They share a high degree of similarity in encoding genes and have AT preferences. All of them have the largest Phe concentration and are the most frequently used codons. (2) Both of their Mt genome are highly preserved in terms of structural and functional genes, while the main variability is reflected in the length of tRNA, the number of genes, and the value of RSCU. (3) T. siniensis and T. ciliata were detected to have 94 and 87 SSRs, respectively, of which mononucleotides accounted for the absolute proportion. Besides, the vast majority of their SSRs were found to be poly-A or poly-T. (4)10 and 11 migrating fragments were identified in the comparison with the chloroplast genome, respectively. (5) In the ML evolutionary tree, T.sinensis and T.ciliata clustered individually into a small branch with 100% support, reflecting two species of Toona are very similarly related to each other.

CONCLUSIONS

This research provides a basis for the exploitation of T.sinensis and T.ciliata in terms of medicinal, edible, and timber resources to avoid confusion; at the same time, it can explore the evolutionary relationship between the Toona and related species, which does not only have an important practical value, but also provides a theoretical basis for future hybrid breeding of forest trees, molecular markers, and evolutionary aspects of plants, which has great scientific significance.

Crops with potential for diclosulam remediation and concomitant bioenergy production

The objective of this work was to evaluate crops for their ability to phytoremediate diclosulam residues in the soil and produce lignocellulosic ethanol. Physiological characteristics, biomass production, soil cover rate, fermentable sugar production and lignocellulosic ethanol production potential of the crops were evaluated in soil with diclosulam residues. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications. The treatments were arranged in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme with the following crops as the first factor: Avena sativa, Canavalia ensiformis, Mucuna aterrima, and Pennisetum glaucum. The second factor was the presence or absence of the herbicide diclosulam in the soil (30 g ha^-1). The physiological variables of the plant species were not affected by the presence of diclosulam; the soil cover of P. glaucum was lower in the area with diclosulam, with a value of 26%. The levels of glucose were not affected by the presence of diclosulam in A. sativa, C. ensiformis, and M. aterrima, indicate not change the estimated yield of ethanol for this species. Avena sativa and Pennisetum glaucum have the potential to phytoremediate soils containing diclosulam residues, with concomitant lignocellulosic ethanol production ability.

Health risks of sulfentrazone exposure during zebrafish embryo-larvae development at environmental concentration

Knowledge about the negative effects and mechanism of sulfentrazone (SUL) on aquatic early life stages is still limited. Here we investigated the lethal and sub-lethal effects of SUL during zebrafish embryo-larvae development. Results demonstrated that the 96 h and 120 h-LC₅₀ of SUL to embryonic zebrafish was 2.02 mg/L, and the 30 d-LC₅₀ was 0.899 mg/L after embryos exposed to SUL for 30 d. High concentrations of SUL delayed yolk sac absorption, disordered the hatching and heart rate during zebrafish embryonic stage, while 0.0100-0.100 mg/L SUL had no phenotypic changes on embryonic development, but decreased the body weight of larvae after 30 d exposure. RNA-seq identified 321, 394 and 727 differentially expressed genes in larvae after embryos exposed to 0.0100 mg/L, 0.0400 mg/L and 0.400 mg/L SUL for 30 d, found that the transcriptional profiles involved in heart development and endocrine disruption were simultaneously influenced by different concentrations of SUL, such as adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, cardiac muscle contraction, cell adhesion molecules and steroid biosynthesis. Biochemical analysis showed that SUL increased the levels of E₂, T₃ and TSH, induced the activities of mitochondrial complex IV, cytochrome c oxidase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, total Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺Mg²⁺-ATPase, and decreased ATP formation after embryos exposed to SUL for 5 d and 30 d. Further comprehensive analysis demonstrated that SUL caused more significantly alteration on the transcript, level or activity of the key elements involved in heart development and endocrine disruption after 30 d exposure, indicated long-term SUL exposure might cause more negative effects on zebrafish at doses below the presumed no-observed-adverse-effect level during early life development. The results inferred the environmental concentration of SUL might cause potential cardiac and endocrine health risk in zebrafish later life stages, also facilitated a better understanding of the sub-lethal effects and molecular mechanism of SUL on aquatic organism.

Assessment of risks to listed species from the use of atrazine in the USA: a perspective

Atrazine is a triazine herbicide used predominantly on corn, sorghum, and sugarcane in the US. Its use potentially overlaps with the ranges of listed (threatened and endangered) species. In response to registration review in the context of the Endangered Species Act, we evaluated potential direct and indirect impacts of atrazine on listed species and designated critical habitats. Atrazine has been widely studied, extensive environmental monitoring and toxicity data sets are available, and the spatial and temporal uses on major crops are well characterized. Ranges of listed species are less well-defined, resulting in overly conservative designations of "May Effect". Preferences for habitat and food sources serve to limit exposure among many listed animal species and animals are relatively insensitive. Atrazine does not bioaccumulate, further diminishing exposures among consumers and predators. Because of incomplete exposure pathways, many species can be eliminated from consideration for direct effects. It is toxic to plants, but even sensitive plants tolerate episodic exposures, such as those occurring in flowing waters. Empirical data from long-term monitoring programs and realistic field data on off-target deposition of drift indicate that many other listed species can be removed from consideration because exposures are below conservative toxicity thresholds for direct and indirect effects. Combined with recent mitigation actions by the registrant, this review serves to refine and focus forthcoming listed species assessment efforts for atrazine.Abbreviations: a.i. = Active ingredient (of a pesticide product). AEMP = Atrazine Ecological Monitoring Program. AIMS = Avian Incident Monitoring SystemArach. = Arachnid (spiders and mites). AUC = Area Under the Curve. BE = Biological Evaluation (of potential effects on listed species). BO = Biological Opinion (conclusion of the consultation between USEPA and the Services with respect to potential effects in listed species). CASM = Comprehensive Aquatic System Model. CDL = Crop Data LayerCN = field Curve Number. CRP = Conservation Reserve Program (lands). CTA = Conditioned Taste Avoidance. DAC = Diaminochlorotriazine (a metabolite of atrazine, also known by the acronym DACT). DER = Data Evaluation Record. EC25 = Concentration causing a specified effect in 25% of the tested organisms. EC50 = Concentration causing a specified effect in 50% of the tested organisms. EC50_RGR = Concentration causing a 50% reduction in relative growth rate. ECOS = Environmental Conservation Online System. EDD = Estimated Daily Dose. EEC = Expected Environmental Concentration. EFED = Environmental Fate and Effects Division (of the USEPA). EFSA = European Food Safety Agency. EIIS = Ecological Incident Information System. ERA = Environmental Risk Assessment. ESA = Endangered Species Act. ESU = Evolutionarily Significant UnitsFAR = Field Application RateFIFRA = Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. FOIA = Freedom of Information Act (request). GSD = Genus Sensitivity Distribution. HC5 = Hazardous Concentration for ≤ 5% of species. HUC = Hydrologic Unit Code. IBM = Individual-Based Model. IDS = Incident Data System. K_OC = Partition coefficient between water and organic matter in soil or sediment. K_OW = Octanol-Water partition coefficient. LC50 = Concentration lethal to 50% of the tested organisms. LC-MS-MS = Liquid Chromatograph with Tandem Mass Spectrometry. LD50 = Dose lethal to 50% of the tested organisms. LAA = Likely to Adversely Affect. LOAEC = Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect Concentration. LOC = Level of Concern. MA = May Affect. MATC = Maximum Acceptable Toxicant Concentration. NAS = National Academy of Sciences. NCWQR = National Center of Water Quality Research. NE = No Effect. NLAA = Not Likely to Adversely Affect. NMFS = National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAEC = No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Concentration. NOAEL = No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Dose-Level. OECD = Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. PNSP = Pesticide National Synthesis Project. PQ = Plastoquinone. PRZM = Pesticide Root Zone Model. PWC = Pesticide in Water Calculator. QWoE = Quantitative Weight of Evidence. RGR = Relative growth rate (of plants). RQ = Risk Quotient. RUD = Residue Unit Doses. SAP = Science Advisory Panel (of the USEPA). SGR = Specific Growth Rate. SI = Supplemental Information. SSD = Species Sensitivity Distribution. SURLAG = Surface Runoff Lag Coefficient. SWAT = Soil & Water Assessment Tool. SWCC = Surface Water Concentration Calculator. UDL = Use Data Layer (for pesticides). USDA = United States Department of Agriculture. USEPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency. USFWS = United States Fish and Wildlife Service. USGS = United States Geological Survey. WARP = Watershed Regressions for Pesticides.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity in the rhizosphere of tree seedlings subjected to residual herbicides

Trees occurring on the margins of agricultural areas can mitigate damage from residual herbicides. Rhizospheric microbial activity associated with trees is one of the main remedial capacity indicators. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rhizospheric microbiological activity in tree species subjected to the herbicides atrazine and sulfentrazone via the rhizosphere. The experiment was designed in four blocks and a 6 × 3 factorial scheme. The first factor consisted of six tree species from Brazil and the second of atrazine, sulfentrazone, and water solutions. Four herbicide applications were performed via irrigation. The total dry mass of the plants, mycorrhizal colonization, number of spores, basal respiration of the rhizospheric soil, and survival rate of bioindicator plants after phytoremediation were determined. Trichilia hirta had higher biomass when treated with atrazine and sulfentrazone. Herbicides decreased the microbial activity in Triplaris americana and did not affect the microbiological indicators of Myrsine gardneriana, Schizolobium parahyba, and Toona ciliata. Fewer bioindicator plants survived in soil with Triplaris americana and sulfentrazone. Microbiological indicators were influenced in different ways between species by the presence of herbicides in the rhizosphere.