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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249897
Title: Effect of Three Insecticides and Two Herbicides on Rice (Oryza sativa) Seedling Germination and Growth

Author
item Moore, Matthew
item KROGER, ROBERT - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2010
Publication Date: 10/17/2010
Citation: Moore, M.T., Kroger, R. 2010. Effect of three insecticides and two herbicides on rice (Oryza sativa) seedling germination and growth. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 59:574-581.

Interpretive Summary: Pesticide runoff from agricultural fields can damage rivers, lakes and streams. One new suggested management practice is to divert agricultural runoff into rice fields before releasing water into rivers and lakes. This study examined the effects of selected pesticides on rice seed germination and growth. Germination was not affected, but shoot growth decreased in selected pesticide exposures. These results will help scientists determine if diversion through rice fields is a plausible future management option.

Technical Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops worldwide. However, it is also a valuable tool in assessing toxicity of organic and inorganic compounds. For more than twenty years, it has been an approved species for standardized phytotoxicity experiments. The objective of this study was to determine germination and radicle (root) and coleoptile (shoot) growth of rice seeds exposed to three insecticides and two herbicides, commonly used in the agricultural production landscape. Although no germination effects of pesticide exposure were observed, significant growth effects were noted between pesticide treatments. Coleoptile growth was significantly (p < 0.05) lowered in metolachlor / atrazine mixture, diazinon, and lambda-cyhalothrin exposures when compared to controls. Radicles of fipronil-exposed seeds were significantly larger (p < 0.05) when compared to controls. This research contributes to the phytotoxicity assessment database, in addition to laying the foundation for the use of rice as a phytoremediation tool for agricultural pesticide runoff.