Effect of rhizosphere enzymes on phytoremediation in PAH-contaminated soil using five plant species

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 30;10(3):e0120369. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120369. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

A pot experiment was performed to study the effectiveness of remediation using different plant species and the enzyme response involved in remediating PAH-contaminated soil. The study indicated that species Echinacea purpurea, Festuca arundinacea Schred, Fire Phoenix (a combined F. arundinacea), and Medicago sativa L. possess the potential for remediation in PAH-contaminated soils. The study also determined that enzymatic reactions of polyphenol oxidase (except Fire Phoenix), dehydrogenase (except Fire Phoenix), and urease (except Medicago sativa L.) were more prominent over cultivation periods of 60d and 120d than 150d. Urease activity of the tested species exhibited prominently linear negative correlations with alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen content after the tested plants were cultivated for 150d (R2 = 0.9592). The experiment also indicated that alkaline phosphatase activity in four of the five tested species (Echinacea purpurea, Callistephus chinensis, Festuca arundinacea Schred and Fire Phoenix) was inhibited during the cultivation process (at 60d and 120d). At the same time, the study determined that the linear relationship between alkaline phosphatase activity and effective phosphorus content in plant rhizosphere soil exhibited a negative correlation after a growing period of 120d (R2 = 0.665). Phytoremediation of organic contaminants in the soil was closely related to specific characteristics of particular plant species, and the catalyzed reactions were the result of the action of multiple enzymes in the plant rhizosphere soil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Catechol Oxidase / metabolism
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Phosphorus / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / enzymology*
  • Plant Roots / metabolism*
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Plants / enzymology*
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Plants / microbiology
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / metabolism*
  • Rhizosphere*
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / metabolism*
  • Urease / metabolism

Substances

  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Phosphorus
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Catechol Oxidase
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Urease
  • Nitrogen

Grants and funding

Funded by Grant No. 31170478 and 31470547 from National Natural Science Foundation of China, (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/publish/portal1/), to RL. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, design to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.