Effects of biochar on 2, 2′, 4, 4′, 5, 5′-hexabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-153) fate in Amaranthus mangostanus L.: Accumulation, metabolite formation, and physiological response

Abstract

The accumulation and metabolism of 2, 2′, 4, 4′, 5, 5′-hexabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-153) in Amaranthus mangostanus L. (amaranth) as affected by different concentrations of biochar (1.3 to 26.6 g/L) under hydroponic conditions exposed to 10 μg/L BDE-153 after 10 days were investigated. Biochar significantly reduced BDE-153 shoot and root content by 27.5–61.6% and 73–95.3%, respectively. In general, BDE-153 migration from solution to amaranth decreased with increasing the doses of biochar. BDE-153 metabolites altered with doses of biochar. The ratio of de-BDEs to BDE-153 in root was polynomial correlated to biochar dose (R2 = 0.9356**). Root and shoot Fe content was positively correlated with the BDE-153 amounts (R2 = 0.948** and 0.822*, respectively). Though the higher biochar dose could obviously control BDE-153 uptake by the vegetable, the toxicity was caused more significantly. For instances, the high concentration of biochar at 26.6 g/L reduced pigment content, increased total ROS, and elevated antioxidant enzyme activity. At the same time, the O2– intensity was linearly positively correlated with de-BDEs in root (R2 = 0.7324*) while photosynthetic parameter Fv/fm intensity was polynomial correlated to BDEs in shoot (R2 = 0.9366*). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that exposure to BDE-153 and high concentration biochar at 26.6 g/L severely altered the chloroplasts in terms of the organelle shape and the presence of starch granules in the chloroplast. Taken together, biochar as a soil amendment could significantly control BDE-153 uptake and enhance BDE-153 metabolism in vegetables, but considering the dose of biochar to avoid its toxicity with higher dose.