Toxic effects of acetone, 2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone on physiological indices of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germination and seedlings

Petroleum hydrocarbons are important characteristic pollutants in the process of oil exploitation in the Yellow River Delta (China), and they cause a potential hazard to the surrounding ecological environment. The research on eco-toxicological effects of petroleum-derived products still needs to be studied in depth. This paper describes the physiological indices of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds and seedlings under independent stresses of acetone, 2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone to determine the toxicological effects of ketones derived from petroleum products on typical crops. The experimental results indicated that ketones with concentrations lower than 0.4 mg·cm−2 and 800 mg·kg−1 the germination of wheat seeds and the growth of seedlings were promoted to 113.32–127.27% and 105.41–126.39%, respectively, thus exhibiting low-dose excitatory effects. However, when the concentration was higher than 0.4 mg·cm−2 and 800 mg·kg−1, germination and seedlings’ growth were significantly reduced to 7.14–2.12% and 35.09–13.33%, respectively. At the same time, acetone had a greater impact on the growth of wheat seed roots, the malondialdehyde (MDA), and chlorophyll contents in leaf tissues. The low concentration of acetone had a significant promoting effect on the activity of α-amylase in wheat seeds. 2-Pentanone reduced the electrical conductivity of wheat seed extract, and it significantly promoted the catalase (CAT) activity at low concentrations. 2-Hexanone had a strong inhibitory effect on wheat germination and growth. This study provided new research results to determine the toxic effects of petroleum-derived products and provided a basis for the environmental management of such substances.