Effect of Triton X-100 on the wheat and lettuce growth and contaminant absorption

Triton X-100 is a surfactant used in a wide range of applications, including agriculture, but its effects on crops are unknown. Related studies reported the effect of Triton X-100 on the growth of wheat and lettuce, and the results showed that Triton X-100 had no significant effect on germination and stem growth of wheat. With lettuce, the increasing Triton X-100 concentrations tend to negatively afect the growth, possibly due to the absorption of Triton X-100 by lettuce. The average lettuce fresh mass was reduced by 31% when Triton X-100 concentration increased from 0 to 240 mg^.L⁻¹. This may mean that chemicals dissolved or mobilized by Triton X-100 can be absorbed by lettuce.

The Cd mobilization was facilitated with Triton X-100, and the absorption of procymidone in soil by lettuce was greater when Triton X-100 was applied (i.e., 0.18 mg^.kg⁻¹) than when water was applied (i.e., 0.15 mg^.kg⁻¹), although they were statistically not diferent (p-value>0.05). The average lettuce masses in the presence of residual procymidone in soil and Triton X-100 (16 g) were lower than that of the control soils (20 g), although they were statistically not diferent (p-value>0.05). The results suggest that surfactants contained in pesticide formulations can potentially afect crop growth and absorption of other contaminants. Therefore, the residual surfactants and active ingredients in pesticide formulations need to be properly managed to protect the environment and to produce crops free of contaminants.

References:

[1] SORA SHIN; Han S P; Eun Hea Jho. Effect of Triton X-100 on the wheat and lettuce growth and contaminant absorption[J]. Applied Biological Chemistry, 2021. DOI:10.1186/s13765-021-00615-4.