Plasticizer contamination in irrigation water: Residue characteristics and toxic effects of DBP and DEHP on wheat growth and metabolism.

The accumulation and transfer of plasticizers in agricultural soil environments have garnered significant attention, but studies on their accumulation, transfer, and impact in agricultural irrigation water remain scarce. This study investigates the effects of Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in irrigation water on wheat focusing on growth, metabolism, and accumulation in roots and leaves. Low concentrations of DBP or DEHP promoted the accumulation of plant height, root length, and biomass of wheat, whereas high concentrations inhibited these parameters. The chlorophyll levels in the leaves followed a similar trend. DBP or DEHP irrigation reduced the expression of fumaric acid and l-malic acid in wheat roots and leaves, indicating disruption of the tricarboxylic acid cycle of wheat. Under the same irrigation conditions, DEHP had more residual content than DBP, but DBP exhibited greater mobility, transferring more readily from wheat roots to leaves. Our finding demonstrated that plasticizers in irrigation water can infiltrate agricultural soils, be absorbed by wheat, and significantly affect its growth and metabolism.