Modification of environmental variables to understand transformation of xenobiotics on root surface: Impact of altering variables on phytotransformation processes

摘要

Plants can transform some organic xenobiotics through enzymatic activities on the root surface. The transformation process, which might be different from nutrient uptake, could be linked to variables such as plant water uptake, photosynthetic activity, and stage of growth. As an approach to understand the phytotransformation process, sunflowers were grown hydroponically and some environmental conditions such as lighting period, size of container, and hydrodynamics were changed. Plants responded to these stimuli and as a consequence different rates of phytotransformation of a particular xenobiotic (benzotriazole) were observed. Further analysis of the results will help to elucidate what phenomena (diffusion, advection, reaction) may be controlling the process, thus providing a better understanding of the phytotransformation of organic contaminants.