title: Growth and antioxidant defense responses of wheat seedlings to di-n-butyl phthalate and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate stress.
abstract: Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are vital environmental hormone-like chemicals that are noxious to plants, animals, and human beings. In this study, the influences of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on the seed germination, root morphology, and various physiological changes of wheat seedlings were investigated by analyzing superoxide anion (O2-) accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation. DBP and DEHP were found to obviously inhibit germination only at high concentrations, but significantly affected root morphology even at lower concentrations. Their toxic effects were the most severe on root elongation, followed by shoot elongation, and were the least severe on germination rate, indicating that root elongation was the best index for evaluating DBP and DEHP eco-toxicity. DBP and DEHP also enhanced O2-and malondialdehyde levels and membrane permeability, as well as produced changes in the antioxidant status and PAE content in the stem and leaf (combined tissues, hereafter shoot) and root tissues. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase increased at low and medium DBP and DEHP concentrations, but declined at high PAE concentrations. These results indicated that PAEs could exert oxidative damage in the early development stage of wheat, particularly at higher concentrations. DBP and DEHP accumulation was higher in the roots than in the shoot tissues, and their levels in these tissues increased with increasing PAE concentrations, supporting their more-serious toxic effects on roots than those on shoots. Further, the physicochemical properties of DBP rendered it more harmful than DEHP.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui Western Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, China; State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui Western Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, China. Electronic address: kyforever2013@163.com.
authors.forename: Minling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui Western Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, China. Electronic address: 1036786772@qq.com.
authors.forename: Youming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui Western Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, China. Electronic address: 1092843397@qq.com.
authors.forename: Ze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui Western Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, China. Electronic address: songwhteam_new@sina.com.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui Western Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, China. Electronic address: 1227433792@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004463:Ecology; D004952:Esters; D020387:Food Chain; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004952:Esters; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C032279:phthalic acid; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Germination; Oxidative stress; Phthalates; Wheat seedling