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Evaluation of prairie grass species as bioindicators of halogenated aromatics in soil
Author(s) -
Siciliano Steven D.,
Germida James J.,
Headley John V.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620160318
Subject(s) - bioindicator , germination , agronomy , soil water , soil contamination , ecotoxicology , phytotoxicity , biology , botany , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology
The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of prairie grasses as bioindicators of toxicants in soil and to investigate the effect different soil types and organisms have upon the germination of plant bioindicators. As a model compound, we used 2‐chlorobenzoic acid (2CBA), a hydrophilic, polar compound present in the degradation pathways of halogenated aromatics. The germination response of prairie grasses to Aroclor™ 1260‐contaminated soil, with concentrations ranging from 13 to 133 μg kg −1 total polychlorinated biphenyls, was also investigated. The grasses responded to a wide range of contamination levels, with a 12‐ and 10‐fold difference in the sensitivity of grass species to 2CBA and Aroclor, respectively. Canada blue grass ( Poa compressa ) and slender wheatgrass ( Agropyron trachycaulum ) were selected for further study of the effects of soil type and biological treatments on bioindicator response to 2CBA. Canada blue grass response in three of four soils was characterized by Y = 110 — 26 × ln( X ), while in the fourth soil it was Y = 94 — 1.6 × X , where Y equals percent germination and × the 2CBA concentration. Slender wheatgrass response was Y = 140 — 23 × ln( X ), with no significant difference between soil types. Previous biological treatments of soil significantly affected the response of slender wheatgrass as a bioindicator. Growing plants or plants inoculated with bacteria in noncontaminated soil before slender wheatgrass was planted inhibited emergence, changing the logarithmic relationship between germination and 2CBA concentrations to Y = 100 — 0.28 × X . Prairie grasses are potentially useful bioindicators of chlorinated aromatics in soil, but biological interactions may alter the bioindicator response.