HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by White, J. C. Articles by Incorvia Mattina, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by White, J. C. Articles by Incorvia Mattina, M. Agricola Articles by White, J. C. Articles by Incorvia Mattina, M. Related Collections Plant and Soil Interactions Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Pesticides Bioremediation and Biodegradation Organic Compounds

TECHNICAL REPORTS

Bioremediation and Biodegradation

Soil Amendments, Plant Age, and Intercropping Impact p,p'-DDE Bioavailability to Cucurbita pepo

^a Department of Soil and Water, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06504
^b Department of Forestry and Horticulture, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06504
^c Department of Analytical Chemistry, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06504

^* Corresponding author (Jason.White{at}po.state.ct.us)

Received for publication July 13, 2005. Field experiments were conducted to optimize the phytoextraction of weathered p,p'-DDE (p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) by Cucurbita subspecies. The effects of two soil amendments, mycorrhizae or a biosurfactant, on p,p'-DDE accumulation was determined. Also, p,p'-DDE uptake was assessed during plant growth (12, 26, 38, and 62 d), and cultivars that accumulate weathered p,p'-DDE were intercropped with cultivars known not to have that ability. Cucurbita pepo L. ssp. pepo accumulated large amounts of the contaminant, having stem bioconcentration factors, amounts of p,p'-DDE translocated, and contaminant phytoextraction that were 14, 9.9, and 5.0 times greater than C. pepo L. ssp. ovifera (L.) D.S. Decker, respectively. During 62 d, the stem BCF (bioconcentration factor) for p,p'-DDE in subspecies pepo remained constant and the total amount of contaminant accumulated was correlated with plant biomass (r² = 0.86). For subspecies ovifera, the stem BCF was highest at 12 d (1.5) but decreased to 0.39 by 62 d, and p,p'-DDE removal was not correlated with plant biomass. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased p,p'-DDE accumulation by both subspecies by an average 4.4 times. For subspecies pepo, mycorrhizae increased the percentage of contaminant extracted from 0.72 to 2.1%. Biosurfactant amendment also enhanced contaminant accumulation by both subspecies, although treatment reduced subspecies ovifera biomass by 60%. The biosurfactant had no effect on the biomass of subspecies pepo, increased the average contaminant concentration by 3.6-fold, and doubled the overall amount of p,p'-DDE removed from the soil. Soil amendments that enhance the mobility of weathered persistent organic pollutants will significantly increase the amount of contaminant phytoextraction by Cucurbita pepo.

Abbreviations: BCF, bioconcentration factor • POP, persistent organic pollutant • TF, translocation factor