Abstract
Anatomical alterations in leaves and DNA damage in cells caused by the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants can be measured by epidermal leaf analyses and Tradescantia micronuclei assay with early pollen tetrad cells. The present study examined the feasibility of using somatic and germ cells of Tradescantia pallida for biomonitoring purposes in the city of Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. Stomatal, micronucleus and epidermal leaf analyses were performed, using standard methodologies, on plants growing at three locations during six different time periods. Tradescantia micronuclei data were analyzed using SAS 9.2 software package and stomatal data were analyzed using SANEST software. Analyses of stomatal characteristics and micronuclei examination in T. pallida were found to be an efficient tool for monitoring atmospheric pollution. The micronucleus assay suggested that the number of micronuclei in early pollen tetrad cells was related to the intensity of vehicular traffic. Increased number of epidermal cells and stomata and increased stomatal density observed at locations with greater vehicular traffic are likely physiological responses of those plants to the increased gas exchange in highly polluted environments.
Highlights
Due to high concentration of industry and intense vehicular traffic, the atmosphere in large urban centers may contain many organic and inorganic mutagens and/or carcinogens (Colvile et al 2001, Skov et al 2001). Kardel et al (2010) studied anatomical alterations in living organisms, especially plants, in urban areas exposed to atmospheric contaminants from vehicular traffic
To address the seasonal variations in leaf anatomy and the effects of air pollution, the present study evaluated the correlation between micronuclei in early pollen tetrad cells and leaf epidermal cells, with the emphasis on stomata, and the level of air pollution from vehicular traffic in different seasons of the year in the city of Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil
The leaves of Tradescantia pallida are hypostomatic with diacytic stomata (Fig. 1)
Summary
Due to high concentration of industry and intense vehicular traffic, the atmosphere in large urban centers may contain many organic and inorganic mutagens and/or carcinogens (Colvile et al 2001, Skov et al 2001). Kardel et al (2010) studied anatomical alterations in living organisms, especially plants, in urban areas exposed to atmospheric contaminants from vehicular traffic. Due to high concentration of industry and intense vehicular traffic, the atmosphere in large urban centers may contain many organic and inorganic mutagens and/or carcinogens (Colvile et al 2001, Skov et al 2001). Kardel et al (2010) studied anatomical alterations in living organisms, especially plants, in urban areas exposed to atmospheric contaminants from vehicular traffic. A number of anatomical parameters of plants, including their stomatal characteristics, have been found to be useful indicators of air quality in urban areas (Balasooriya et al 2009, Kardel et al 2010). (“salgueiro branco") leaves as bioindicators of air quality and concluded that the stomatal characteristics of this plant could successfully and accurately be used for that purpose A number of anatomical parameters of plants, including their stomatal characteristics, have been found to be useful indicators of air quality in urban areas (Balasooriya et al 2009, Kardel et al 2010). Wuytack et al (2010) evaluated the potential of using Salix alba L. (“salgueiro branco") leaves as bioindicators of air quality and concluded that the stomatal characteristics of this plant could successfully and accurately be used for that purpose
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