The level of oxytetracycline uptake in the presence of copper ions and the physiological response of Brassica chinensis L.

Abstract

Copper and oxytetracycline (OTC) are two ordinary contaminants in farmlands. In the present study, the effects of oxytetracycline and Cu on growth, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant indices of Brassica chinensis were investigated. The results showed that treatments with OTC promoted growth of seedlings and roots, which were diminished by the addition of 100 mg/kg Cu. Contents of photosynthetic pigments decreased along with the elevation of OTC concentration. In comparison, their levels increased in the presence of 100 mg/kg Cu, suggesting that OTC might weaken the toxicity of Cu on photosynthesis. Moreover, the accumulation of OTC in either plant or soil was relatively lower in treatments with Cu than those without Cu. Overall, the present results suggested an antagonistic interaction between OTC and Cu on B. chinensis.