Absorption, translocation, and metabolism of atrazine, carbamazepine, and sulfamethoxazole by the macrophyte Orange King Humbert canna lily (Canna x generalis LH Bailey (pro sp.) [glauca x indica])

Canna x generalis L.H. Bailey (pro sp.) [glauca x indica] (common name: Orange King Humbert canna lily) has been reported as a promising plant species that can effectively remove contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as atrazine (ATZ), carbamazepine (CBZ), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), from contaminated surface water. In the present study, absorption, translocation, and metabolism of such CECs in canna were examined using carbon-14-labeled ([C-14]) analogues of each contaminant to understand the removal of each. Uptake/adsorption of the [C-14]-CECs increased over time and was > 47.5% at the end of the 14-day study. The root-shoot translocation of [C-14]-ATZ in canna was the greatest at 49.9-78.8%, followed by [C-14]-CBZ (1.9-44.7%) and [C-14]-SMX (3.3-6.0%). The cumulative transpiration of canna was correlated with absorption (R-2 > 0.95) and root-shoot translocation (R-2 > 0.97) magnitudes of [C-14]-CECs in canna. Radiographic results revealed significant conversion of parent [C-14]-CECs into other metabolites during the 14-day study. Metabolism of [C-14]-ATZ and [C-14]-CBZ occurred mainly in the shoots, whereas metabolism of [C-14]-SMX occurred in the roots. Taken together, root-shoot redistribution and metabolism of CECs absorbed into canna can vary by transpiration volume as well as chemical properties.

Automated summary

The Orange King Humbert canna lily has been found to effectively remove contaminants such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals from contaminated surface water. The study on the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of these contaminants in canna lily shows that the uptake increases over time, root-shoot translocation is significant, and there is conversion of the contaminants into metabolites. This suggests that canna lily not only absorbs contaminants but also converts them through translocation and metabolism.