Abstract
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs)-induced genotoxicity on aquatic plants is still an open question. Herein, a single clone from a population of water hyacinth covering a large distribution area of Nile River (freshwater) was transplanted in two drainage water resources to explore the hazardous effect of PTEs on molecular, biochemical and anatomical characters of plants compared to those grown in freshwater. Inductivity Coupled Plasma (ICP) analysis indicated that PTEs concentrations in water resources were relatively low in most cases. However, the high tendency of water hyacinth to bio-accumulate and bio-magnify PTEs maximized their concentrations in plant samples (roots in particular). A Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay showed the genotoxic effects of PTEs on plants grown in drainage water. PTEs accumulation caused substantial alterations in DNA profiles including the presence or absence of certain bands and even the appearance of new bands. Plants grown in drainage water exhibited several mutations on the electrophoretic profiles and banding pattern of total protein, especially proteins isolated from roots. Several anatomical deteriorations were observed on PTEs-stressed plants including reductions in the thickness of epidermis, cortex and endodermis as well as vascular cylinder diameter. The research findings of this investigation may provide some new insights regarding molecular, biochemical and anatomical responses of water hyacinth grown in drainage water resources.
Highlights
The fast global discharge of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the hydrosphere has attracted serious focus due to their high bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification potentials [1,2,3].The consumption of aquatic products is the main pathway of Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) accumulation in the human body [4]
The rotated component matrix revealed that Fe, Cd, Cr, As, Al, Co, Ti, and Mo showed negative correlation and strongly correlated with principal component 2 (PC2), and these elements might be derived from industrial origins
The present study demonstrated the presence of 21 protein bands separated from leaves of water hyacinth plants grown in freshwater
Summary
The fast global discharge of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the hydrosphere has attracted serious focus due to their high bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification potentials [1,2,3].The consumption of aquatic products is the main pathway of PTEs accumulation in the human body [4]. PTEs phytotoxicity induced several disorders in biochemical and physiological plant systems including disturbance in cell division, cell cycle impairment, disorders in mitochondrial respiration, dysfunctions in synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, alterations in plasma membrane permeability and defects in water status and nutrients uptake [15]. These biochemical and physiological disorders are associated with several malformations in the anatomical and ultrastructural aspects of plant cells and tissues. Physiological and anatomical deteriorations, the common morphological symptoms of PTEs phytotoxicity are chlorosis, withering, falling of leaves as well as defects in shoot and root development [17]
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