Abstract
Experiments were conducted with arsenic-hyperaccumulator, Pteris vittata, and non-hyperaccumulator, Pteris ensiformis, subjected to various arsenic toxicity levels (0 to 1500 mg As kg-1) in peat-moss or soil for up to 14 weeks, to evaluate phenotypic responses and total lipid with fatty acid profiles, and P. vittata influence on rhizosphere enzyme activities. P. ensiformis exhibited significant phenotypic toxicity response compared to P. vittata. P. vittata sequestered significantly (p<0.5) higher arsenic (5,160.6 mg As kg-1) than P. ensiformis (313.4 mg As kg-1). Cellular damage and physiological death occurred in P. ensiformis with alteration in fatty acids and lipid compositions but no significant changes in P. vittata. Both showed no detectable C16:3 but a decrease in C18:3, which was more pronounced in P. ensiformis (51.2%); hence, are reported as C18:3 plants for the first time. Acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, alrysulphatase, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activities were inhibited by As and significantly (p<0.5) negatively correlated to As concentration. Enzyme inhibition range from 6% in β-glucosidase to 67% in N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase. These results revealed P. vittata phenotypic tolerance to As stress was mediated through metabolic-readjustment, especially its fatty acid and lipid compositions. Additionally, P. vittata rhizospheric events modulate soil enzyme activities in the As-contaminated soil. Key words: Fern, heavy metal, phenotypic response, fatty acids, acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, alrysulphatase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, rhizosphere.
Highlights
Heavy metals and metalloids contamination have received considerable attention in the past decades due to increasing environmental contamination from anthropogenic activities: industrial and municipal waste, as well as agrochemicals (Khan et al, 2017)
At 50 mg As kg-1, moderate frond chlorosis, wilting, and frond edge browning was observed in up to 40% of the plant at 5-day post-treatment and this increased to 60% at 10 days post-treatment compared to 0% for P. vittata
This study evaluated comparatively phenotypic and biochemical responses of As non-hyperaccumulator, P. ensiformis and the As hyperaccumulator, P. vittata in Asspiked peat moss and soil
Summary
Heavy metals and metalloids contamination have received considerable attention in the past decades due to increasing environmental contamination from anthropogenic activities: industrial and municipal waste, as well as agrochemicals (Khan et al, 2017). Common phenotypic responses to heavy metals and metalloids toxicity in plants include growth retardation, leaf chlorosis and necrosis, impaired photosynthesis, respiration, mineral nutrition uptake, gene expression, initiation of senescence and program cell death (Caille et al, 2004; Shaibur et al, 2008; Steiner et al, 2012). Some of these symptoms are similar to those observed in nutrient deficient plants. Aluminum toxicity may mimic P deficiency phenotype and calcium deficiency mimicking drought or root damage stress (BojórquezQuintal et al, 2017)
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