phytotoxicity assay of selected plants to Pyrene contaminated soil

摘要

Three selected plants (Alfalfa, oilseed rape and perennial ryegrass) were tested for their ability to germinate and grow in a soil contaminated with a typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), Pyrene, at two concentrations: 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kgdry soil. When compared to control plants grown in uncontaminated soil, pyrene did not inhibit the germination of the three tested species even at the highest concentration (100 mg/kg), with a germination percentage of alfalfa, oilseed rape and ryegrassof 95, 90 and 86%, respectively. The shoot and root lengths of the three plants were also unaffected by the presence of pyrene at both concentrations. Based on these results, the three tested species can be considered as pyrene tolerant plants, and can be used in phytoremediation experiments. Among the tested species, oilseed rape seemed to be the most suitable plant, probably because of the greater root length. Greenhouse studies are in progress to evaluate the development of these plants in the advanced growth stages, and their effect on pyrene level in soil.