Explosive-eating plants

A plant has been genetically engineered so it can use explosives as a source of nutrients. Why, is the obvious question that springs to mind. Well, the idea is that such a plant could grow on military training ranges absorbing some pretty nasty pollutants that would otherwise sink into the soil.

When military types make bombs go bang, not all of the explosive material, be it TNT or the rather more ferociously explosive RDX, are used up. TNT sticks to the soil and is toxic to plants. RDX quickly leaches through the soil, from where it can reach the water table and potentially water supplies.

But some bacteria have been found to be able to tolerate TNT and even use nitrogen-containing RDX as a nutrient source. University of York scientists have found that by taking two genes from these bacteria and sticking them in a weedy plant known as Arabidopsis, it takes on the same abilities. "The RDX is completely used in the plant," said Dr Liz Rylott. "It is mineralised. And the TNT is biologically unavailable."  The plants attach a sugar molecule to the TNT so it's no longer toxic.

Rylott told the British Science Festival in Bradford that the researchers in York, who had been approached by the US Department of Defence to do the research, are now working with University of Washington scientists to transfer the technique to grasses that are hardy and typically grow on training ranges - they can withstand being rolled over by tanks in other words.

As well as the US, these explosives-absorbing grasses could be used on sites where munitions were manufactured in the UK during the world wars.