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Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry (2003) 37, (139–144) (Printed in Great Britain)

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Phytoremediation of 2,4-dichlorophenol by Brassica napus hairy root cultures

Elizabeth Agostini*, María S. Coniglio*, Silvia R. Milrad*, Horacio A. Tigier*¹ and Ana M. Giulietti†

*Departamento de Biología Molecular, FCEFQN, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 Km 601, CP 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina and †Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología. FByF, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Key words: contaminant removal, in vitro culture, peroxidase isoenzyme, phenolic compounds, turnip.

Abbreviation used: 2,4-DCP, 2,4-dichlorophenol.

¹To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail htigier@exa.unrc.edu.ar).

We have obtained hairy root cultures of Brassica napus with high biomass and genetic stability which produce peroxidases, enzymes involved in biodegradation processes. In this work, these hairy root cultures were used to study the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), a common contaminant in industrial effluents that is highly toxic for human and aquatic life. The optimum conditions to obtain high efficiency in the removal process were established. Roots were able to remove 2,4-DCP from aqueous solutions containing 100–1000 mg/l, in the presence of H₂O₂ concentrations ranging from 5 to 10 mM. After a short period of incubation (15 min), high removal efficiencies were achieved (91–94%) and maximal removal, of approx. 97–98%, was obtained with 1 h of reaction. High removal efficiencies (93–95%) were observed in a broad pH range (pH 3–9), reaching 98–99% in the range pH 4–8. Moreover, roots could be re-used, almost for six consecutive cycles, to remove 2,4-DCP. The oxidation catalysed by peroxidases would be the main mechanism involved in this process. The results suggest that these cultures could be useful tools for phytoremediation.

Received 13 September 2002/4 November 2002; accepted 8 September 2002

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