chlorophyll-a and metolachlor

This study demonstrates the enantioselective removal dynamics and mechanisms of the chiral herbicide metolachlor in a hydroponic system of Phragmites australis. It presents the first work to elucidate plant-microbial driven enantioselective degradation processes of chiral chemicals. The results showed a degradation efficiency of up to 95.07 ± 2.81% in the hydroponic system driven by a notably high degradation rate constant of 0.086 d

Topics: Acetamides; Antioxidants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Chlorophyll; Herbicides; Hydroponics; Oxygen; Plants; Reactive Oxygen Species

S-metolachlor (S-ME) is a widely used chiral herbicide that can cause potential ecological risks via long-term usage. In this work, we chose a model plant, wheat, as the test material to determine the effects of applying 10 mg/kg S-ME to soil on its fresh weight, chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the diversity and structural composition of the phyllosphere microorganisms after 7 and 14 days of exposure. Our work showed that this concentration of residual S-ME in soil only slightly decreased plant biomass and had little effect on lipid peroxidation, the antioxidant enzyme system and chlorophyll content. Interestingly, although the test concentration of S-ME did not exert strong inhibitory effects on the physiological activities of wheat, it decreased the diversity of phyllosphere microbial communities and changed their structure, indicating that microorganisms were more sensitive stress indicators. S-ME reduced the colonization by some beneficial bacteria related to plant nitrogen fixation among the phyllosphere microorganisms, which influenced the growth and yield of wheat because these bacteria contribute to plant fitness. In addition, S-ME affected the association between the host and the composition of the phyllosphere microbial communities under different growth conditions. Our work provides insights into the ecological implications of the effects of herbicides on the phyllosphere microbiome.

Topics: Acetamides; Chlorophyll; Microbiota; Soil; Superoxide Dismutase; Triticum

The rational use and environmental security of chiral pesticides has gained the interest of many researchers. The enantioselective effects of Rac- and S-metolachlor on oxidative stress in Scenedesmus obliquus were determined in this study. Stronger green fluorescence was observed in response to S-metolachlor treatment than to Rac-metolachlor treatment, suggesting that more reactive oxygen species (ROS) were stimulated by S-metolachlor. ROS levels following S-metolachlor treatment were 1.92-, 8.31-, and 1.08-times higher than those observed following Rac-metolachlor treatment at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/L, respectively. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were stimulated with increasing herbicide concentrations, with S-metolachlor exhibiting a greater effect. Oxidative damage in terms of chlorophyll (Chl) content, cellular membrane permeability, and cellular ultrastructures of S. obliquus were investigated. Chla and Chlb contents in algae treated with Rac-metolachlor were 2-6-fold higher than those in algae treated with S-metolachlor at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/L. The cellular membrane permeability of algae exposed to 0.3 mg/L Rac- and S-metolachlor was 6.19- and 42.5-times that of the control. Correlation analysis implied that ROS are the major factor responsible for the oxidative damage caused by Rac- and S-metolachlor. Damage to the chloroplasts and cell membrane of S. obliquus, low production of starch granules, and an increased number of vacuoles were observed upon ultrastructural morphology analysis by transmission electron microscope. These results indicate that S-metolachlor has a greater effect on S. obliquus than Rac-metolachlor.

Topics: Acetamides; Catalase; Chlorophyll; Herbicides; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Scenedesmus; Stereoisomerism; Superoxide Dismutase; Water Pollutants, Chemical

Many recent ecotoxicological studies suggest a relationship between freshwater contamination and increasing abundances of motile diatoms (potentially able to move). The capacity to escape would present advantages to species in polluted environments. However, actual motility as a response to toxicants had not been described and required experimental validation. We designed a specific experiment to assess how a field-isolated diatom (Gomphonema gracile) distributes energy to in situ resistance (increased population growth or photosynthesis) and escape (behavioral changes), when exposed to increasing concentrations of the herbicide metolachlor. We report here the dose-time dependent responses of G. gracile populations. They coped with low contamination by resisting in situ, with early hormetic responses highlighted by stimulation of chlorophyll-a fluorescence. At a higher dose, harmful impacts were observed on growth after a few days, but an earlier behavioral response suggested that higher motility (percentage of motile individuals and mean distance crossed) could be involved in escape. Our findings bring new arguments to support the implementation of real measurements instead of motility traits in toxicity assessment. Specifically, motion descriptors have been used as early-warning indicators of contamination in our study. Further works should address the reliability of these endpoints in more complex conditions (interspecific variability, behavior in the field).

Topics: Acetamides; Chlorophyll; Diatoms; Fresh Water; Motor Activity; Photosynthesis; Reproducibility of Results; Water Pollutants, Chemical

To evaluate the enantioselective toxicity of chiral pesticide coexisting with heavy metal, the enantioselective toxicity of Rac-, S-metolachlor alone and coexisting with Zn2+ on Scenedesmus obliquus was studied by using standard toxic testing method. The results showed that the trend of the enantioselective toxicity of Rac- and S-metolachlor coexisting with Zn2+ was similar to that of Rac- and S-metolachlor alone. The growth inhibition rate of Scenedesmus obliquus was decreased by the coexistence of Zn2+ with high concentrations of metolachlor. The inhibition rates with 0.30 mg x L(-1) Rac- and S-metolachlor alone at 24 h were 49.61% and 59.73%, and in the coexistence of Zn2+ the values were 38.41% and 42.52%, respectively. The enantioselective toxicity of Rac- and S-metolachlor was expanded and the toxicity of S-metolachlor increased greater than that of Rac-metolachlor. The coexistence of Zn2+ showed partial increase in toxicity of metolachlor in low concentrations, while there was antagonistic effect in high content of metolachlor. The trend of Chlorophyll content of Scenedesmus obliquus at 96 h was in accordance with the growth inhibition.

Topics: Acetamides; Chlorophyll; Herbicides; Scenedesmus; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zinc

Szechuan peppers are extensively used as a spice and in traditional medicine in Asia, primarily because of its active compounds, sanshools (S). However, there is only limited mention in agriculture, and there are no papers reporting its use as an herbicide safener. In this study, we provide the first evidence that S can effectively alleviate rice-seedling injury from metolachlor (M). We observed that the M-treated (0.25 μM) rice seedlings, which were 56.0%, 66.0%, and 57.0% of the non-treated control in shoot height, root length, and fresh biomass, respectively, were recovered by S to 93.1%, 97.6%, and 94.8%, respectively. The emergence rate was enhanced to over 80% in the M+S treatment, whereas it was below 60% in the M treatment. This M+S mixture elevated the rice-seedling root activity to higher than 87.0% of the value for the non-treated control. The activity of glutathione transferases in the combined treatments approximately doubles that of the M treatment and quadruples that of the non-treated controls. This effect was positively correlated with the induced expression of OsGSTU3. Our results suggest that S may represent a new group of safeners and enable the possibility of using these compounds for improving plant production or protecting rice from the phytotoxicity of metolachlor.

Topics: Acetamides; Amides; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Glutathione Transferase; Herbicides; Oryza; Plant Roots; Plant Shoots; Protective Agents; Seedlings

The single and combined effects of Cd2+ and S-metolachlor on the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Scenedesmus obliquus were studied by using standard toxic testing method. Both Cd2+ and S-metolachlor had effects on the chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters such as F0, FV/Fm, FV/F0, Y( II), qP, NPQ and rETR after 96 h-exposure, showing that Cd2+ and S-metolachlor damaged the PS II in algae, inhibited the primary reaction of photosynthesis, stopped the process of photosynthetic electron transport, and destroyed its ability of heat dissipation. The effects of Cd2 + on the chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters were greater than those of S-metolachlor, and the effects increased with the increasing concentration. The average drop of Y( II ) was 62. 5% in the control group when the light intensity was 231 μmol (m2.s) -1 , and it was 68. 0% , 82. 5% and 100% respectively in Cd2+ -treated groups, and 66. 1% , 72. 1% and 79.6% respectively in S-metolachlor-treated group with the increasing concentration. The combined effects of Cd2+ and S-metolachlor on the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were mainly due to the impacts of Cd2+.

Topics: Acetamides; Cadmium; Chlorophyll; Electron Transport; Fluorescence; Photosynthesis; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Scenedesmus

Toxic effects of the herbicide metolachlor (MC) were evaluated for three marine microalgae, Tetraselmis suecica (chlorophyte), Ditylum brightwellii (diatom), and Prorocentrum minimum (dinoflagellate). MC showed a significant reduction in cell counts and chlorophyll a levels. Median effective concentration (EC50) was calculated based on chlorophyll a levels after a 72-h MC exposure. EC50 values for T. suecica, D. brightwellii, and P. minimum were 21.3, 0.423, and 0.07 mg/L, respectively. These values showed that the dinoflagellate was most sensitive when exposed to the herbicide, at a concentration comparable to freshwater algae, suggesting its potential as an appropriate model organism for ecotoxicity assessments in marine environments.

Topics: Acetamides; Alveolata; Aquatic Organisms; Cell Count; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Chlorophyta; Diatoms; Herbicides

We assessed the capability of a constructed wetland to mitigate toxicity of a variety of possible mixtures, such as nutrients only (NO) (nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P]), pesticides only (PO) (atrazine, S-metolachlor, permethrin), and nutrients + pesticides on phytoplankton chlorophyll-a, on 48-h aqueous Hyalella azteca survival and 10-day sediment H. azteca survival and growth. Water and sediment were collected at 10-, 20-, and 40-m distances from inflow and analyzed for nutrients, pesticides, chlorophyll-a, and H. azteca laboratory bioassays. Phytoplankton chlorophyll-a increased 4- to 10 -fold at 7 days after NO treatment. However, responses of chlorophyll-a to PO and nutrients + pesticides were more complex with associated decreases at only 20 m for pesticides only and 10 and 40 m for nutrients + pesticides treatments. H. azteca aqueous survival decreased within the first 48 h of dosing at 10- and 20-m distances during PO and nutrients + pesticides treatments in association with permethrin concentrations. H. azteca sediment survival was unaffected, whereas 10-day growth decreased within 1 day of dosing at all sites during nutrients + pesticides treatment. Constructed wetlands were shown to be an effective agricultural best-management tool for trapping pollutants and mitigating ecological impacts of run-off in agricultural watersheds.

Topics: Acetamides; Amphipoda; Animals; Atrazine; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Environmental Monitoring; Herbicides; Insecticides; Mississippi; Nitrogen; Permethrin; Phosphorus; Phytoplankton; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Wetlands

Oxidative stress, i.e. excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leads to lipid peroxidation and to formation of reactive aldehydes (e.g. 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal; HNE), which act as second messengers of free radicals. It was previously shown that herbicides can induce ROS production in algal cells. In the current paper, the unicellular green microalga Chlorella kessleri was used to study the effect of two herbicides (S-metolachlor and terbuthylazine) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) on oxidative stress induction, HNE formation, chlorophyll content and the cell growth. Production of HNE was detected in this study for the first time in the cells of unicellular green algae using the antibody specific for the HNE-histidine adducts revealing the HNE-histidine adducts even in untreated, control C. kessleri. Exposure of algal cells to herbicides and H(2)O(2) increased the ROS production, modifying production of HNE. Namely, 4h upon treatment the levels of HNE-histidine conjugates were below controls. However, their amount increased afterwards. The increase of HNE levels in algae was followed by their increased growth rate, as was previously described for human carcinoma cells. Hence, changes in the cellular HNE content upon herbicide treatment inducing lipid oxidative stress and alterations in cellular growth rate of C. kessleri resemble adaptation of malignant cells to the HNE treatment. Therefore, as an addition to the standard toxicity tests, the evaluation of HNE-protein adducts in C. kessleri might indicate environmental pollution with lipid peroxidation-inducing herbicides. Finally, C. kessleri might be a convenient experimental model to further study cellular hormetic adaptation to oxidative stress-derived aldehydes.

Topics: Acetamides; Adaptation, Physiological; Aldehydes; Chlorella; Chlorophyll; Herbicides; Hormesis; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lipid Peroxidation; Oxidants; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Triazines; Water Pollutants, Chemical

The biomonitoring of pesticide pollution in streams and rivers using algae such as diatoms remains difficult. The responses of diatom communities to toxic stress in stream water are disturbed by the variations of environmental parameters. In this study, periphytic algae collected in situ were exposed under controlled conditions to two major herbicides used in French agriculture (isoproturon and s-metolachlor). Three exposure regimes were tested: 5 and 30 microg L(-1) for 6 days and 30 microg L(-1) for 3 days followed by a recovery period of 3 days. The algal biomasses were assessed from pigment concentrations (chlorophyll a and c) and from live cell density. The highest concentration (30 microg L(-1)) of isoproturon inhibited the biomass increase statistically significantly. In periphyton exposed to 5 and 30 microg L(-1) of s-metolachlor, chlorophyll c concentration and live cell density were also statistically significantly lower than in the control. Periphyton left to recover after reduced exposure duration (3 days) showed higher growth rates after treatment with s-metolachlor than with isoproturon. Taxonomic identifications showed that species like Melosira varians, Nitzschia dissipata and Cocconeis placentula were not affected by the herbicide exposure. Other species like Eolimna minima and Navicula reichardtiana were more sensitive. Studying diatoms according to their trophic mode showed that facultative heterotroph species were statistically significantly favoured by isoproturon exposure at the highest concentration. Results obtained with s-metolachlor exposure showed a disturbance of cell multiplication rather than that of photosynthesis. These results suggest that photosynthesis inhibitors like isoproturon favour species able to survive when the autotroph mode is inhibited.

Topics: Acetamides; Biomass; Cell Count; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Diatoms; Environmental Monitoring; Fresh Water; Herbicides; Phenylurea Compounds; Rivers; Solid Phase Extraction; Statistics, Nonparametric; Temperature; Water Pollutants, Chemical

The toxicity of the chiral herbicides rac-metolachlor and S-metolachlor to Chlorella pyrenoidosa was determined and compared in this study, based on four different test endpoints: the growth inhibition rate, the chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b concentration, the catalase activity, and the ultrastructural morphology of cells. The 24, 48, 72, and 96h EC(50) values of rac-metolachlor were 0.196, 0.241, 0.177 and 0.152mgL(-1), respectively; these values were higher than those of S-metolachlor, which were 0.116, 0.106, 0.081 and 0.068mgL(-1), respectively. This indicates that S-metolachlor was more toxic to C. pyrenoidosa than rac-metolachlor. The Chla and Chlb concentration of C. pyrenoidosa treated by rac-metolachlor was higher than that treated by S-metolachlor. In general, the catalase activity of C. pyrenoidosa treated by S-metolachlor was higher than that exposed to rac-metolachlor, and catalase activity was inhibited at high concentrations of both herbicides. The ultrastructural morphology of cells grown in the two herbicides was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The cell wall separated from the cell membrane, accumulated starch granules were observed in the chloroplast, and some lipid droplets and unknown electron-opaque deposits were also observed in the cytoplasm. The mechanism of the toxicity of rac- and S-metolachlor toxicity to C. pyrenoidosa was explored, and the enantioselective toxicity of rac- and S-metolachlor to C. pyrenoidosa was determined. These results will help to develop an understanding of the biologically mediated environmental processes of rac- and S-metolachlor.

Topics: Acetamides; Catalase; Cell Growth Processes; Chlorella; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Herbicides; Stereoisomerism