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Uptake and
compartamentalization of phenanthrene by roots of Cyperus
hermaphroditus in hydroponic system
Angélica Guerrero Zúñiga1,
Alfredo
Cruz Orea2, Juvencio Galíndez Mayer3
and Angélica Rodríguez Dorantes4*
1Dirección
de Seguridad y Medio Ambiente,
Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, México City 07730, México.
2Departmento
de Física, CINVESTAV-IPN, México City 14740, México.
3Departmento
de Biotecnología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas,
I. P. N., México City
11340, México.
4Laboratorio
de Fisiología Vegetal, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias
Biológicas, I. P. N., México City
11340,
México.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
rodorantes@yahoo.com.mx.
Accepted 25 March, 2009 |
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Contaminants
enter plants through three major pathways, by the root
uptake and subsequent translocation into various plant parts
through the transpiration process, by vapour uptake from the
surrounding atmosphere and by the deposition of contaminated
soils and dusts on plant cuticles and subsequent contaminant
diffusion through plant surfaces. The uptake and
immobilization of phenanthrene by the radical system of
Cyperus hermaphroditus was studied by
employing a hydroponic system. The plants were exposed to
40, 80, and 120 mg/L of this pollutant for 3 and 12 days.
Phenanthrene was extracted and quantified by U.V.
spectroscopy and HPLC analysis. The uptake and sorption of
phenanthrene in these species increased with plant age and
with the exposition time to the contaminant. Due to the
greater total root mass with a more surface area as well as
the enhanced affinity of the roots for the pollutant,
the
radical system of C. hermaphroditus may thus provide
a surface for phenanthrene biosorption. Consequently the
retention of contaminants by plant roots could be an
important control in stabilizing otherwise immobile organic
compounds.
Key
words:
Hydroponic culture, phenanthrene, radical system, uptake,
bioconcentration factor. |
