Abstract
The processes of atrazine (2-chloro-4-[ethylamino]-6-[isopropylamino-]-s-tri-azine) uptake and release in the submersed vascular plant,Potamogeton perfoliatus L., were rapid, approaching equilibrium with the surrounding environment within one hr. The ratio of internal atrazine concentration to external concentration was approximately 10 at the point of maximum photosynthetic inhibition and rapidly increased at lower external atrazine concentrations. The I50 (the concentration inhibiting photosynthesis by 50%) for atrazine in solution was 80 μg/L with the maximum observed photosynthetic reduction (87%) at a solution concentration of 650 μg/L. Initial photosynthetic recovery ofP. perfoliatus following exposure to atrazine was rapid with oxygen evolution from treated plants (5, 25, and 100 μg/L) being statistically indistinguishable from control plants after two hr of atrazine-free wash. However, there was an indication of residual photosynthetic depression in dosed plants, even after a 77 hr recovery period. In Chesapeake Bay, potential long-term exposure of submersed plants to concentrations of atrazine greater than 10 μg/L is doubtful so that reduction ofP. perfoliatus photosynthesis under such conditions would be minimal and reversible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bayley S, Stotts VD, Springer PF, Steenis J (1978) Changes in submerged aquatic macrophyte populations at the head of the Chesapeake Bay. 1958–1975. Estuaries 1:74–75
Bohm HH, Muller H (1976) Model studies on the accumulation of herbicides by microalgae. Naturewissenschaften 63:296
Correll DL, Pierce JW, Wu TL (1978) Herbicides and submerged plants in the Chesapeake Bay. Proc Symp Tech Environ Socioeconomic and Regulatory Aspects Coastal Zone Manage. ASCE, San Francisco. CA, pp. 858–877
Correll DL, Wu TL (1982) Atrazine toxicity to submersed vascular plants in simulated estuarine microcosms. Aquatic Bot 14:151–158
Cunningham JJ, Kemp WM, Lewis MR, Stevenson JC (1984) Temporal responses of the macrophyte,Potamogeton perfoliatus, and its associated autotrophic community to atrazine exposure in estuarine microcosms. Estuaries 7:519–530
Delistraty DA, Hershner C (1984) Effects of the herbicide atrazine on adenine nucleotide levels in Zostera marinum (L.) (Elegrass). Aquatic Bot 18:353–369
Forney DR, Davis DE (1981) Effects of low concentrations of herbicides on submersed aquatic plants. Weed Sci 29:677–85
Funderburk HH, and Lawrence JM (1963) Absorption and transiocation of radioactive herbicides in submersed and emersed aquatic weeds. Weed Res 3:304–311
Geller A (1979) Sorption and desorption of atrazine by three bacterial species isolated from aquatic systems. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 8:713–720
Glotfelty DE, Taylor AW, Isensee AR, Jersey J. Glenn S (1984) Atrazine and simazine movement to Wye River estuary. J Environ Qual 13:115–121
Izawa S, Good NE (1965) The number of sites sensitive to 3-(3-4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyurea,3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and 2-chloro-4-(2-propylamino)-6-thyla-mino-s-triazine in isolated chloroplasts. Biochim Biophys Acta 102:20–38
Jones TW, Kemp WM, Stevenson JC, Means JC (1982) Degradation of atrazine in estuarine water/sediment systems and soils. J Environ Qual 11:632–638
Jones TW, Estes PS (1984) Uptake and phytotoxicity of soil-sorbed atrazine for the submerged aquatic plant,Potamogeton perfoliatus L. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 13:237–241
Jones TW, Winchell L (1984) Uptake and photosynthetic inhibition by atrazine and its degradation products on four species of submerged vascular plants. J Environ Qual 13:243–247
Kemp WM, Means JC, Jones TW, Stevenson JC (1982) Herbicides in Chesapeake Bay and their effects on submerged aquatic vegetation. In Chesapeake Bay Program Technical Studies: A Synthesis. Part IV. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, pp 503–567
Kemp WM. Boynton WR, Twilley JC, Stevenson JC, Ward LG (1984) Influences of submerged vascular plants on ecological processes in upper Chesapeake Bay. In Kennedy, VS (ed) Estuaries as filters. Academic Press, New York, pp 367–394
Kemp WM, Boynton WR, Cunningham JJ, Stevenson JJ. Jones TW, Means JC (1985) Effects of atrazine and linuron on photosynthesis and growth of the macrophytes,Potamogeton perfoliatus (L.) and Myriophyllum spicatum (L.), in an estuarine environment. Mar Environ Res (in press)
Muir DCG, Yoo JY, Baker BE (1978) Residues of atrazine and N-deethylated atrazine in water from five agricultural watersheds in Quebec. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 7:221–224
Orth R, Moore K (1983) Chesapeake Bay: An unprecedented decline in submerged aquatic vegetation. Science 222:51–53
Stevenson JC, Confer NM (1978) Summary of available information on Chesapeake Bay submerged vegetation. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. (FWS/OBS-78/66). Washington, DC, 335 pp
Triplett GB, Conner BJ. Edwards WM (1978) Transport of atrazine and simazine in runoff from conventional and no-tillage crops. J Environ Qual 7:77–84
Vallentine JP, Bingham SW (1976) Influence of algae on amitrole and atrazine residues in water. J Can Bot 54:2100–2107
Weber JB, Weed SB, Ward TM (1969) Absorption of 5-triazines by soil organic matter. Weed Sci 17:417–421
Wu TL (1980) Dissipation of the herbicides atrazine and alachlor in a Maryland corn field. J Environ Qual 9:459–465
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jones, T.W., Kemp, W.M., Estes, P.S. et al. Atrazine uptake, photosynthetic inhibition, and short-term recovery for the submersed vascular plant,Potamogeton perfoliatus L.. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 15, 277–283 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061104
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061104