Effects on strawberry plants of cadmium and glufosinate ammonium contaminated water

Abstract

Abstract Fragaria vesca L. cv. Annabelle plants were cultivated in hydroponic system and treated for 28 days with control (Hoagland solution), 1 mg L− 1 of Cd, 10 µg L− 1 of glufosinate ammonium and the mix of glufosinate ammonium and Cd. Cd and glufosinate influence the photosynthetic parameters starting from day 18 and Cd alone the fruit fresh weight after 28 days of exposure. Cd in roots was upper to 200 µg g− 1DW then decrease to leaves (< 15 µg g− 1DW) reaching the lowest concentrations in fruits (< 3 µg g− 1DW). Only the metabolite 3-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl) propionic acid (MPP) of glufosinate has been detected over the detection limit in each organ analysed. Glufosinate exposure reduce fruits Ca uptake (-35% compared to control) while Cd reduce the uptake of Fe and Ca in leaves and Zn, Mn and Ca in fruits. This work proves that realistic and residual concentrations of Cd and glufosinate ammonium, that could be present in wastewater used for irrigation, have an impact of strawberry growth and fruit production and composition. Considering the health risk for consumers, data indicate a low consumers exposure level to Cd and a clear presence of glufosinate metabolite MPP in fruits.