Interaction between cadmium and atrazine during uptake by rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.)

The uptake of atrazine by rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) through plant roots from nutrient solution was investigated in the presence and absence of Cd2+ over an exposure period of four weeks. It was found that both atrazine and Cd2+ were toxic to rice seedlings. Both shoot and root biomasses decreased when the seedlings were exposed to increasing atrazine or Cd2+ concentrations in nutrient solutions. In the absence of Cd2+, a linear relationship was observed between atrazine concentrations in roots/shoots and in external solution, and more atrazine is concentrated in roots than in shoots. When atrazine and Cd2+ concentrations in solution were maintained at mole ratio of 1:1, the accumulation of atrazine by seedlings was less and the seedling biomass was greater than found with other ratios, such as 1:2 or 2:1. Therefore, the formation of the complex between atrazine and Cd2+ reduced the individual toxicities. Analyses of data with the quasi-equilibrium partition model indicated that the atrazine concentrations in rice seedlings and external water were close to equilibrium. In the presence of Cd2+, however, the measured bioconcentration factor (BCF) of atrazine with roots and shoots were considerably greater. The latter findings resulted presumably from the atrazine–Cd2+ complex formation that led to a large apparent BCF.