Hormetic effect(s) of tetracyclines as environmental contaminant on Zea mays

Animal wastes from intensive pig farming as fertilizers may expose crops to antimicrobials. Zea mays cultivations were carried out on a virgin field, subjected to dressing with pig slurries contaminated at 15 mg L−1 of Oxy- and 5 mg L−1 of Chlor-tetracycline, and at 8 mg L−1 of Oxy and 3 mg L−1 of Chlor, respectively. Pot cultivation was performed outdoor (Oxy in the range 62.5–1000 ng g−1 dry soil) and plants harvested after 45 days. Tetracyclines analyses on soils and on field plants (roots, stalks, and leaves) did not determine the appreciable presence of tetracyclines. Residues were found in the 45-day pot corn only, in the range of 1–50 ng g−1 for Oxy in roots, accounting for a 5% carry-over rate, on average. Although no detectable residues in plants from on land cultivations, both experimental batches showed the same biphasic growth form corresponding to a dose/response hormetic curve.