Understanding the Impacts of Crude Oil and its Induced Abiotic Stresses on Agrifood Production: A Review

Abstract

In many parts of the world, the agricultural sector is faced with a number of challenges including those arising from abiotic environmental stresses which are the key factors responsible for most reductions in agrifood production. Crude oil contamination, an abiotic stress factor and a common environmental contaminant, at toxic levels has negative impacts on plants. Although various attempts have been made to demonstrate the impact of abiotic stresses on crops, the underlying factors responsible for the effects of crude oil and its induced abiotic stresses on the composition of the stressed plants are poorly understood. Hence, this review provides an in-depth examination of the: (1) effect of petroleum hydrocarbons on plants; (2) impact of abiotic environmental stresses on crop quality; (3) mechanistic link between crude oil stress and its induced abiotic stresses; as well as (4) mode of action/plant response mechanism to these induced stresses. The paper clearly reveals the implications of crude oil-induced abiotic stresses arising from the soil-root-plant route and from direct application on plant leaves.

Effect of Crude Oil on Growth, Oxidative Stress and Response of Antioxidative System of Two Rye (Secale cereale L.) Varieties

“…At a lower level of soil contamination with oil (12.5%), there was a stimulated increase in the fresh cob yield of maize. This stimulating effect could be attributed to the bacterial breakdown of the hydrocarbons, release of nutrients from the oil, or hormonal influence [ 34 ]. However, further research is needed for more accurate identification of the reasons for the stimulating effect of oil on plants.…”

“…The main factors of the negative effect of soil oil pollution on plants appear to be direct toxic effect of petroleum hydrocarbons and indirect effects associated with changes in physicochemical and biochemical properties of the soil, as well as with the destruction of soil microbial communities and reduction in the diversity and the quantity of soil organisms [ 38 ]. The indirect effect of oil soil pollution on the physiological state of plants can also be determined by the fact that oil triggers water-stress, osmotic stress, anaerobic stress, and nutrient deficiency stress in plants via soil–root–plant interaction [ 34 ]. This statement is also confirmed by the results of transcriptome analyses of Z. mays presented in [ 39 ].…”

“…The biosynthesis of phenolics under stressful environments is regulated by the altered activities of various key enzymes of phenolic biosynthetic pathways and by the up-regulation of the transcript levels of genes encoding these enzymes [ 53 ]. In conditions of soil oil pollution, the induction of phenolic compounds biosynthesis in plants can be determined by an increase in ROS content and by a deficiency of mineral nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus, which is observed at a high oil concentration in the soil [ 34 ]. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous studies on the change in the gene expression of phenylpropanoids biosynthesis in the conditions of crude oil-polluted soil.…”

Seed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem

“…Oil pollution can reduce photosynthetic rates [ 22 ] and alter the natural concentrations of proteins, free amino acids, phenols, and sugars in plants [ 23 ]. Moreover, the production of defensive secondary metabolites, as well as the assimilation of nutrients and water, may be impaired by oil hydrocarbons [ 24 ].…”

DETECCIÓN DE Pseudomonas spp. EN LA BAHÍA DE CARTAGENA

“…La contaminación por hidrocarburos del petróleo es un problema de carácter mundial y amplia distribución geográfica, teniendo en cuenta que independiente de la zona afectada, ya sea por procesos biológicos y físicos, tienen como destino final los mares y océanos (Carpenter, 2019;Diez et al, 2019). Los derrames accidentales o provocados, afectan tanto el suelo como el agua, así como también causan una alteración a la calidad del paisaje (Serrano et al, 2013) y en la producción agrícola (Odukoya et al, 2019). En Cartagena de Indias, la calidad de las aguas costeras se ha visto alterada por los efluentes domésticos, industriales y agrícolas, como por el transporte terrestre, fluvial y marítimo y por las descargas de la industria del petróleo (Echeverri et al, 2010; Eljaiek-Urzola et al, 2019).…”