Effects of phenanthrene on seed germination and some physiological activities of wheat seedling

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the highly persistent organic pollutants, and they are toxic to plants and other living organisms, including human beings. To analyze the response of higher plant to PAHs, we investigated the effects of phenanthrene (PHE) on seed germination and various physiological changes of wheat seedlings. Specifically, we investigated growth, chlorophyll content, lipid peroxidation (LPO), activities of antioxidant enzymes and H2O2 accumulation. The results showed that PHE inhibited seed germination, affected the growth and chlorophyll level of wheat seedlings. Furthermore, PHE elevated the levels of LPO and induced H2O2 accumulation in leaf tissues in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by the changes in the antioxidant status. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), displayed a decreasing trend with the increasing of PHE concentration. The results indicated that PHE could exert oxidative damages in the early development stage of wheat and the harmfulness occurred mainly in samples with higher concentrations of PHE.