Phytotoxicity and metabolic responses induced by tetrachlorobiphenyl and its hydroxylated and methoxylated derivatives in rice (Oryza sative L.)

[Display omitted] •CB-61, 4′-OH-CB-61 and 4′-MeO-CB-61 led to growth inhibition and oxidative stress in rice.•The phytotoxicity of 4′-OH-CB-61 and 4′-MeO-CB-61 were greater than the parent PCB.•4′-MeO-CB-61 promoted saccharides catabolism, indicating greater energy demand.•CB-61 and 4′-OH-CB-61 promoted antioxidants biosynthesis to fight against ROS. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their biotransformation products, hydroxylated (OH-PCBs) and methoxylated derivatives (MeO-PCBs), have been detected in the environment and biota, especially crops. However, to date, little information is available on the phytotoxicity and metabolic responses induced by these chemicals in crops. In this study, we exposed rice (Oryza sative L.) seedlings to 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (CB-61) and its hydroxylated (4′-OH-CB-61) and methoxylated derivatives (4′-MeO-CB-61) at 0, 10, 50, 100 and 500 μg/L, respectively. After exposure for 14 days, significantly growth inhibition and oxidative damage were observed, among which the toxicities of 4′-OH-CB-61 and 4′-MeO-CB-61 were greater than that of the parent PCBs. Metabolomics analysis indicated that exposure to the three chemicals induced different metabolic responses. 4′-MeO-CB-61 mainly affected the saccharide catabolism, including pyruvate metabolism, the TCA cycle, the transfer of acetyl groups into mitochondria and the Warburg effect, resulting in a greater energy consumption. Moreover, both CB-61 and 4′-OH-CB-61 promoted several amino acid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis, thereby alleviating the potential ROS damage. This study for the first time evaluates and reveals the phytotoxicity of OH-PCBs and MeO-PCBs at the metabolic level, which attempts to provide important information for accurately evaluating the environmental risks of PCBs from the perspective of metabolism.