Extensive worldwide use of oxytetracycline (OTC),a member of the tetracyclines,has resulted in its accumulation in soils,posing a potential risk to food production and safety.A pair of OTC-sensitive (Heyou 1) and OTC-tolerant (Yannong 21) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars was compared hydroponically at 0.01,0.02,0.04,and 0.08 mmol L-1 OTC in terms of wheat growth and photosynthesis.Biomass and shoot length decreased significantly with the addition of OTC,with the decreases in dry biomass and shoot length being 5.61%-13.75% and 3.33%-8.57% larger,respectively,for Heyou 1 than Yannong 21.Photosynthesis of Heyou 1 was suppressed by OTC as indicated by the significant decreases in photosynthetic rate (PN),transpiration rate (TR),and stomatal conductance (GS) and the significant increase in intercellular CO 2 concentrations (CI),at all OTC levels.Stomatal limitation (LS) and water use efficiencies (WUE) of Heyou 1 also increased significantly,but not at 0.08 mmol L-1 OTC.However,photosynthesis of Yannong 21 was suppressed by OTC only at high OTC levels from 0.02 to 0.08 mmol L-1 as indicated by the decreases in PN,GS,TR,and LS;at 0.01 mmol L-1 OTC,PN,CI,GS,and TR significantly increased.It was noted that WUE of Yannong 21 was not affected by OTC addition.The results from this hydroponic test suggested that OTC had a potential risk to crop growth through inhibition of photosynthesis,requiring further confirmation with soil tests.
LI Zhao-Jun XIE Xiao-Yu ZHANG Shu-Qing LIANG Yong-Chao
A solution culture experiment was performed to investigate the effects of oxytetracycline (OTC) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth, chlorophyll contents, and photosynthesis at five levels of 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mmol L-1 OTC. OTC is toxic to wheat. The wheat growth, especially wheat root was significantly decreased. Further OTC also significantly decreased root activity, chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic parameters except for intercellular CO2 concentrations. The different responses of indicators such as root number, root activity and so on to OTC were also observed. The IC50 values for the tested indicators to OTC ranged from 7.1 to 113.4 mmol L-1 OTC. The order of indicator sensitivity to OTC was root number > stomatal conductance > chlorophyll a > total chlorophyll > photosynthetic rates > total surface area > transpiration rate > chlorophyll b > fresh weight of root > dry weight of root > total length > dry weight of shoot = fresh weight of shoot > total volume. The root number was more sensitive than other indicators with the IC50 value of 7.1 mmol L-1 OTC, and could be taken as the sensitive indicator to predict the hazards of OTC to wheat.
LI Zhao-jun XIE Xiao-yu ZHANG Shu-qing LIANG Yong-chao
