title: Morphological and physiological responses of maize (Zea mays) exposed to sand contaminated by phenanthrene.
abstract: Phytoremediation is promising, but depends on clearly understanding contaminants' impact on plant functioning. We therefore focused on the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on cultivated plants and understanding the impact of phenanthrene (PHE) on maize functioning (Zea mays). Cultivation was conducted under controlled conditions on artificially contaminated sand with PHE levels increasing from 50 to 750 mg PHE kg(-1). After four weeks, plants exposed to levels above 50 mg PHE kg(-1) presented decreased biomasses and reduced photosynthetic activity. These modifications were associated with higher biomass allocations to roots and lower ones to stems. The leaf biomass proportion was similar, with thinner blades than controls. PHE-exposed plant showed modified root architecture, with fewer roots of 0.2 and 0.4 mm in diameter. Leaves were potassium-deplete, but calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc-enriched. Their content in nitrogen, iron, sulfur and manganese was unaffected. These responses resembled those of water-stress, although water contents in plant organs were not affected by PHE and water supply was not limited. They also indicated a possible perturbation of both nutritional functioning and photosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France; INRA, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dupuy
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France; INRA, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouvrard
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France; INRA, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France. Electronic address: pierre.leglize@univ-lorraine.fr.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leglize
authors.affiliation: Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France; INRA, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy F-54518, France.
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sterckeman
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D063246:Organogenesis, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C031181:phenanthrene; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: Mineral nutrition; PAH; Phytotoxicity; Root morphology