Effect of organic pollutant treatment on the growth of pea and maize seedlings

This study confirmed the considerable effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene (FLT; 0.01, 0.1, 1, 4 and 7 mg/l) exposure on the germination of seeds, growth and root morphology of seedlings in Zea mays and Pisum sativum. Seed germination was significantly inhibited at FLT≥0.01 mg/l in maize and at ≥1 mg/l in pea. The amount of released ethylene after 3 days of germination was significantly increased in both species at FLT≥0.1 mg/l. After 7 days of seedling cultivation a significant decrease in the dry weight of roots and shoots occurred in maize at FLT≥0.1 mg/l while in pea similar effect was observed at ≥1 mg/l. The total length of primary and lateral roots was significantly reduced by FLT≥1 mg/l in maize and by 4 and 7 mg/l in pea. The length of the non-branched part of the primary root was significantly reduced by FLT≥0.1 mg/l in maize and ≥0.01 mg/l in pea. In both species the number of lateral roots was significantly increased at FLT≤1 mg/l and inhibited at concentrations of 4 and 7 mg/l. Fluoranthene content in roots and shoots of both species positively correlated with the FLT treatment.