title: Effects of diethylphthalate and di-(2-ethyl)hexylphthalate on the physiology and ultrastructure of cucumber seedlings.
abstract: Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one kind of persistent organic pollutants. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of diethylphthalate (DEP) and di(2-ethyl)hexylphthalate (DEHP) with different concentrations (0, 30, 50, 100, and 200 mg L(-1)) on early seedling growth of Cucumis sativus L. Physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructure of seedling leaves were examined for 7-day exposure. The three antioxidant enzymes' activities was stimulated at low-DEP treatments and decreased under higher levels (>200 mg L(-1)) compared to the controls. Furthermore, MDA and H2O2 gradually enhanced with the elevation of DEP and DEHP concentration. Significant impact on the chloroplast and mitochondrion was visible, possibly as a consequence of free radical generation. DEP induced bigger and more starch grains in chloroplasts than DEHP. This study concluded that the effects of DEP and DEHP on cucumber seedlings represented the adverse impacts of DEP and DEHP on the ecosystem and agricultural production. The environmental harm caused by DEP was severer than DEHP.
authors.affiliation: School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People's Republic of China, zhangyinghr@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Guangpeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiuxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010795:Phthalic Acids; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C007379:diethyl phthalate