Changes in growth and physiological parameters of spring barley and common radish under the influence of 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) constitute a large group of chemical substances, which, thanks to their desirable properties, still attract attention of scientists and representatives of the industry. This may lead to a greater commercial use of these compounds, which will undoubtedly lead to the contamination of soils, constituting the basis of plant vegetation, with these substances. This paper presents effect of 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMMIM][BF4] on the growth and development of spring barley and common radish and on the physiological and biochemical changes in these plants. The used IL was characterized by relatively high toxicity for the monocotyledonous plant, which was exhibited by shortening of the plant length and their root length, decreasing the fresh weight yield. Moreover, [BMMIM][BF4] led to the decrease in the content of all photosynthetic pigments in spring barley seedlings, reflecting the decrease in the fresh yield. Furthermore, the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) level and changes in contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, that is, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) may suggest the occurrence of oxidative stress in spring barley. The decrease in the content of photosynthetic pigment and the increase of POD activity constitute the most reliable markers of oxidative stress and, at the same time, the signs of early aging of spring barley plants. Common radish was the plant with a very high tolerance for the used IL, which can be indicated by, that is, EC50 values, determined based on inhibition of root length, plant length, and fresh weight yield.