Toxicological effects of single and joint sulfamethazine and cadmium stress in soil on pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.)

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 263; p. 128296
• Main Authors: Zhou, Changrui, Ma, Qiang, Li, Shuailin, Zhu, Mengmeng, Xia, Zhuqing, Yu, Wantai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2021
• Subjects: antioxidant activity; antioxidant enzymes; ascorbic acid; Brassica; Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis; cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Cadmium - toxicity; catalase; enzyme activity; Hydrogen Peroxide; malondialdehyde; Oxidative stress; Pakchoi; peroxidase; physiological response; phytotoxicity; plant growth; pollution; Soil; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Sulfamethazine; superoxide dismutase; Toxicity; Cd; Oxidative stress; Pakchoi; Sulfamethazine; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128296

The combined pollution of heavy metals and antibiotics in soil has attracted increasing attention due to their negative effects on plant growth. The aims of this study were to evaluate the phytotoxicity of single and combined sulfamethazine (SMT) and cadmium (Cd), selected as target pollutants in soil, on growth and physiological response of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.). Results revealed that the soil spiked with 10 mg kg−1 Cd inhibited the pakchoi growth regardless of SMT addition. The combined effect of SMT and Cd stress on uptake of SMT or Cd by pakchoi were concerned with their combined concentration. The combined influence of high concentrations SMT and Cd (1 and 10 mg kg−1) exposure on the Cd content of pakchoi showed antagonistic effects and synergistic effects, respectively. Besides, oxidative substances and enzyme activity of pakchoi tissue were affected by Cd and SMT exposure in the soil, particularly by their joint stress. This mainly expressed as the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 content and antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT)), which could be ascribed to the induction of Cd and SMT stress. Additionally, the SMT-Cd combined stress caused more reduction in nutrients (vitamin C and sugar) of pakchoi than the correspondingly single Cd stress. In conclusion, the SMT and Cd in soil lead to their accumulation and oxidative damage in pakchoi, which disturb the antioxidant defense system and ultimately adversely affect growth and quality of pakchoi. [Display omitted] •Toxicity of single and joint SMT and Cd stress on pakchoi growth were explored.•Effect of SMT on uptake of Cd by pakchoi was associated with both concentration ratio.•Synergism and atagonism were observed at different levels of combined Cd and SMT stress.•Combined SMT and Cd stress had a greater effect on physiological system of pakchoi.