ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Responses of Invasive Wedelia trilobata
and Native Wedelia chinensis to Levofloxacin
Hydrochloride: Implication for Biological
Invasion
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1
School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Jiangsu University,
Zhenjiang, China
2
Faculty of Engineering, School of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
3
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
Submission date: 2023-02-23
Final revision date: 2023-04-03
Acceptance date: 2023-04-19
Online publication date: 2023-07-04
Publication date: 2023-07-21
Corresponding author
Adeel Abbas
School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Postal code 212013, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(4):3605-3615
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ABSTRACT
Invasion of alien plants has become a global problem, and antibiotics, a new pollutant, have
received widespread attention. We hypothesized that different concentration levels of Levofloxacin
hydrochloride facilitate different physiological, growth and antioxidant system responses in W. trilobata
and W. chinensis. The toxicity of Levofloxacin hydrochloride was assessed in W. trilobata and W.
chinensis through physiological, chlorophyll, and antioxidant system. Compared with single species, the
two plants were more susceptible to the influence of levofloxacin hydrochloride when mixed; in sand
culture, levofloxacin hydrochloride affected physiological parameters (leave size, number of leaves,
plant height, stem length, and dry weight biomass). The exogenous addition of levofloxacin significantly
restricted the root development of plants, especially in the case of hydroponics. Both plants showed
prominent oxidative stress characteristics that leaves yellowed and withered, as well as showed on
photosynthesis and antioxidant system. SOD presents different trends under different experiment units.
CAT activity showed a significant decrease in all treatment groups. No significant difference observed
in POD activity between both plants under sand culture conditions, and it increased after Levofloxacin
hydrochloride application. Overall,our results revealed that invasive W. trilobata adapted well against
Levofloxacin hydrochloride with better growth and antioxidant system, which strengthens the biological
invasion process.