Atrazine is one of the widely used herbicides for controlling many weeds and grasses. Due to its intensive use, it has become one of the serious contaminants in soils and waters. However, its toxicology in crops and human beings is not fully understood. To evaluate the detrimental impact of atrazine on graminaceous crops, experiments focusing on atrazine accumulation and toxic response in rice (Oryza sativa) were carried out. Treatment with atrazine reduced the elongation of shoots and roots. The shoot was more affected than the root. Atrazine was readily absorbed by rice from media. Although the quantitative absorption of atrazine was positively correlated with the external supply of the herbicide, the translocation of atrazine from media to plants or from roots to the above-ground was depressed. While accumulation of atrazine in plants led to toxic responses, it triggered the defense system against the herbicide-induced oxidative stress. This was best presented by the enhanced activities of several antioxidant enzymes and expression of genes responsible for tolerance to atrazine toxicity. The biological responses in rice will serve as indicators for the assessment of herbicide accumulation and contamination in crops and the environment.

Accumulation and toxicological response of atrazine in rice crops

248th National Meeting (2014)

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