The Effect of Toxic Substances of Cigarette Filter on the Growth and Some Physiological Characteristics of Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) in Soil and Hydroponic Media

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the impacts of discarded filters, either from smoked and non-smoked cigarette filters (shredded and unshredded filter) on fescue plant from poaceae family. This experiment was carried out on the seed germination in the petri dishes and cultivation in the pot and in the hydroponic media. The experiment consisted of four replications and five treatments. Laboratory tests including measuring the chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid, measuring the amount of proline, antioxidant properties were carried out. In the seed germination test, fresh weight of the shoot had significant decrease compared to the control. The amount of chlorophyll a, b and the carotenoid of the hydroponic culture was better influenced than pot culture for the better diffusion of toxic substances. All the cigarette filter treatments caused a significant increase in the antioxidant content in the pot and hydroponic culture, compared to the control. The treatments of shredded and unshredded smoked cigarette filter in pots and hydroponics caused a significant increase in the amount of proline compared to the control conditions. Proline is an osmotic regulator that shows the positive response of the plant under the stress conditions of toxic substances from these filters.