Biotechnological strategies for phytoremediating chlorinated herbicides in the Humid Pampa

MERINI, LJ; CUADRADO, V; GIULIETTI, AM

Puerto Madryn - Argentina

Congreso; XLVI Reunion Anual - Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion en Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular; 2010

In agricultural producer countries, the use of chlorinated herbicides (atrazine), associated to intensive farming practices, overflows the ecosystems natural attenuation capacity. Thus, herbicide residues contaminate the soils and water sources, increasing the risk for human health and wildlife. Humid Pampa is the main agricultural region in one of the world’s largest herbicide consumer countries; hence, technologies to remediate its residues are needed. In this context, phytoremediation is an effective, environmental friendly and publicly accepted option. Accordingly, the objective of designing biotechnological strategies for phytoremediating chlorinated herbicide residues in an integrated approach to the ongoing Humid Pampa agricultural trend, is raised. In this way, strategies according to the edaphic, topogeographic and farming practices characteristics of this region where establish. Those strategies include the adequate selection of plant species. For that purpose, atrazine tolerance assays were performed in simple (semisolid agar medium) and complex (microcosms) experimental systems implanted with Lolium multiflorum, Lotus sp and Quenopodium quinoa. L. multiflorum was selected and assessed via atrazine dissipation assays with soil, achieving statistically significant attenuation levels. According to the observed results, the strategy scale up to field conditions is planned.