Effects of different MTBE concentration on seed germination and biomass of corn (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Abstract

MTBE was introduced in production in 1970's in order to reduction of air pollution and replacing of toxic compounds from gasoline. After only a few years of its using, it becomes a one of important soil and water contaminant. The aim of this paper was investigation of seed germination and biomass of corn, wheat and alfalfa in presence of different MTBE concentration. The results of investigation showed the inhibitory MTBE effect on plant germination at all used concentration higher from 10 ppm. The decrease in plant biomass was more expressed in maize compared to other two species. It was concluded that MTBE due its mobility, solubility and persistence, had toxic effects on metabolic processes in seeds and changed biomass production in early stage of plant development. .

MTBE je uveden u proizvodnju 70-ih godina XX veka u cilju redukcije aerozagađenja i zamene toksičnih komponenti iz benzina. Posle svega nekoliko godina upotrebe, MTBE je definisan kao značajan kontaminant zemljišta i voda. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitivanje klijavosti semena i biomase kukuruza, pšenice i lucerke u prisustvu različitih koncentracija MTBE-a. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da (i) ispitivane biljne vrste različito reaguju na povećane koncentracije MTBE-a, (ii) biljke su klijale samo pri najnižim koncentracijama MTBE-a (10 ppm), (iii) biomasa je kod kukuruza bila drastično smanjena pri koncentraciji od 10 ppm dok je kod ostale dve biljne vrste smanjenje biomase bilo mnogo manje izraženo. Svi ovi rezultati ukazuju da se MTBE, zbog svoje perzistentnosti, mobilnosti i rastvorljivosti u vodi, aktivno uključuje u metabolizam biljaka u ranim fazama porasta. .