Phytotoxicity of Nitroaromatic compounds in wheat

Explosive compounds such as 2,4,6- trinitrotoluene (TNT) in environment particular soils is an important problem of environmental pollution. Soil and groundwater at sites throughout the world were contaminated in the past century by manufacturing, processing, and storage of explosives. TNT is also present in the environment as a result ofdecommissioning activities and through field usage and disposal activities such as open burning. In each case, toxic or reproductive effects were demonstrated which have shown to be mutagenic. TNT causes liver damage and aplastic anemia in human. Soil and groundwater at sites throughout of Iran were contaminated in the past years by havening long wars.Certain plant species show the ability of removing of TNT from soil which is followed by its accumulation in the plant tissue. The use of toxicity data is an important tool in selection of plant species for phytoremediation usage of xenobiotic compounds from environment. Phytoremediation is an innovative technology that using trees, grasses and other plants to clean out the environment and to remediate hazardous waste sites. Phytoremediation have been developed with enhanced abilities to tolerate and remove TNT from the soil. Toxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to a terrestrial plant specie, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was assessed in artificial soil silica using seedling emergence, shoot and roots biomasses at the concentration range of 3.2-10000 mg kg–1 dry weight (DW). Wheat revealed resistance against the toxicity of TNT. The emergence was reduced by46-50% after 5 days of exposure at TNT concentrations up to100 mg.kg-1 DW. Shoot and root biomasses were reduced in wheat by 10-15 % and no signification, after 14 days of exposure at TNT concentrations ≤32 mg.kg-1 DW and concentrations higher than 100 mg.kg-1 DW can be tolerated signification, after 14 days of exposure at TNT concentrations ≤32 mg.kg-1 DW and concentrations higher than 100 mg.kg-1 DW can be tolerated.