title: Exploiting plant metabolism for the phytoremediation of persistent herbicides.
abstract: Weed control by herbicides has helped us to create the green revolution and to provide food for at least the majority of human beings living today. However, some herbicides remain in the environment and pose an ecological problem. The present review describes the properties and fate of four representative herbicides known to be presistent in ecosystems. Metabolic networks are depicted and it is concluded that removal of these compounds by the ecologically friendly technique of phytoremediation is possible. The largest problem is seen in the uptake of the compounds into suitable plants and the time needed for such an approach.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.
authors.forename: Julian O D
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frova
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schroder
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tissut
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081:Acetamides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001280:Atrazine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004463:Ecology; D006540:Herbicides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008782:Methylurea Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D006540:Herbicides; D008782:Methylurea Compounds; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; C028904:isoproturon; D001280:Atrazine; C051786:metolachlor