Lead induced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in root cells of Allium cepa and Vicia faba

Essential Mineral Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements in Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Cultivated in Northern Ethiopia

This study investigated the influence of the agro-climatic environment of Northern Ethiopia on the content of essential mineral elements of selected orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes, the potential contribution of each genotype's essential mineral elements to the recommended dietary allowance, and the potential risk to human health from the accumulation of potentially toxic elements in the tuberous roots of the studied genotypes. The results showed consistent interspecific variations in the content of essential mineral elements among the studied orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes, as well as important intraspecific differences, which could depend on the variations in soil mineral and organic matter content, rainfall, temperature, as well as interactions between genotype and environment. The investigated genotypes, especially Kulfo, Ininda, Gloria, and Amelia, can provide an amount of several essential mineral elements high enough to meet 100% of the recommended dietary allowance for all age groups ≤8 years. The mean content of potentially toxic elements in tuberous roots and their daily intake values were within the recommended permissible levels; likewise, no health risk was associated with the consumption of these genotypes for Cr, As, and Pb. However, Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni is > 1, consumption imposes health risks based on daily accumulation.

Microbial Interventions in Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Agroecosystem

Soil naturally comprises heavy metals but due to the rapid industrialization and anthropogenic events such as uncontrolled use of agrochemicals their concentration is heightened up to a large extent across the world. Heavy metals are non-biodegradable and persistent in nature thereby disrupting the environment and causing huge health threats to humans. Exploiting microorganisms for the removal of heavy metal is a promising approach to combat these adverse consequences. The microbial remediation is very crucial to prevent the leaching of heavy metal or mobilization into the ecosystem, as well as to make heavy metal extraction simpler. In this scenario, technological breakthroughs in microbes-based heavy metals have pushed bioremediation as a promising alternative to standard approaches. So, to counteract the deleterious effects of these toxic metals, some microorganisms have evolved different mechanisms of detoxification. This review aims to scrutinize the routes that are responsible for the heavy metal(loid)s contamination of agricultural land, provides a vital assessment of microorganism bioremediation capability. We have summarized various processes of heavy metal bioremediation, such as biosorption, bioleaching, biomineralization, biotransformation, and intracellular accumulation, as well as the use of genetically modified microbes and immobilized microbial cells for heavy metal removal.

Investigating the underlying mechanism of cadmium-induced plant adaptive response to genotoxic stress

Plants as sessile organisms have developed some unique strategies to withstand environmental stress and adaptive response (AR) is one of them. In the present study Cadmium (Cd)-induced AR was evaluated to ameliorate the genotoxicity of a known chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) based on cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress in two model plant systems Allium cepa L. and Vicia faba L. Priming the plants with cadmium chloride (CdCl₂, 25 and 50 μM) reduced the genotoxicity of EMS (0.25 mM). Cd-induced AR was evident by the magnitude of adaptive response (MAR) values calculated for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and biochemical parameters. In addition the involvement of some major metabolic pathways and epigenetic modifications in AR was investigated. Metabolic blockers of protein kinase cascades, DNA repair, oxidative stress and de novo translation interfered with the adaptive response implying their role in AR whereas, inhibitors involved in post-replication repair and autophagy were ineffective implicating that they probably have no role in the AR studied. Moreover to find the role of DNA methylation in AR, methylation-sensitive comet assay was carried out. Simultaneously 5-methyl- 2'-deoxycytidine (5mdC) levels were quantified by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). AR was eliminated in cells treated with a demethylating agent, 5-aza- 2'deoxycytidine (AZA). Results implied a contribution of DNA hypermethylation. To the best of our knowledge this is a first report correlating DNA methylation to Cd-induced adaptive response in plants undergoing genotoxic stress.

Effects of lead stress on the growth, physiology, and cellular structure of privet seedlings

In this study, we investigated the effects of different lead (Pb) concentrations (0, 200, 600, 1000, 1400 mg kg-1 soil) on the growth, ion enrichment in the tissues, photosynthetic and physiological characteristics, and cellular structures of privet seedlings. We observed that with the increase in the concentrations of Pb, the growth of privet seedlings was restricted, and the level of Pb ion increased in the roots, stem, and leaves of the seedlings; however, most of the ions were concentrated in the roots. Moreover, a decreasing trend was observed for chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, net photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), sub-stomatal CO2 concentration (Ci), maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching (qP), and quantum efficiency of photosystem II (ΦPSII). In contrast, the carotene levels, minimum fluorescence (F0), and non-photochemical quenching (qN) showed an increasing trend. Under Pb stress, the chloroplasts were swollen and deformed, and the thylakoid lamellae were gradually expanded, resulting in separation from the cell wall and eventual shrinkage of the nucleus. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we found that the content of Pb in the leaves exerted the maximum effect on the seedling growth. We observed that the decrease in photosynthetic activation energy, increase in pressure because of the excess activation energy, and decrease in the transpiration rate could result in maximum effect on the photosynthetic abilities of the seedlings under Pb stress. Our results should help in better understanding of the effects of heavy metals on plants and in assessing their potential for use in bioremediation.

The effects of lead stress on photosynthetic function and chloroplast ultrastructure of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings

In this experiment, the effects of different lead (Pb) concentrations (0, 200, 600, 1000, 1400 mg kg^-1) on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings were examined. As Pb concentration increased, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance (g _s), and mesophyll intercellular carbon dioxide concentration were gradually reduced. Maximal photochemical efficiency, photochemical quenching, and quantum yield also decreased. However, the initial fluorescence and nonphotochemical quenching gradually increased. Chloroplasts swelled owing to local plasmolysis and lost most of their starch content, and their thylakoid lamellae gradually became disordered and loosely packed. When the chloroplast envelope was lost under high Pb stress (≥1000 mg kg^-1), lipid globules were released into the surrounding mesophyll cell. Multiple regression analysis showed that g _s and inactivity of the PSII reaction center had the greatest effect on photosynthetic function, whereas inhibition of electron transport had minimal effects on black locust seedlings under Pb stress.

Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of sewage sludge on higher plants

Sewage treatment yields sludge, which is often used as a soil amendment in agriculture and crop production. Although the sludge contains elevated concentrations of macro and micronutrients, high levels of inorganic and organic compounds with genotoxic and mutagenic properties are present in sludge. Application of sludge in agriculture is a pathway for direct contact of crops to toxic chemicals. The objective of this study was to compile information related to the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of sewage sludge in different plant species. In addition, data are presented on toxicological effects in animals fed with plants grown in soils supplemented with sewage sludge. Despite the benefits of using sewage sludge as organic fertilizer, the data showcased in this review suggest that this residue can induce genetic damage in plants. This review alerts potential risks to health outcomes after the intake of food cultivated in sewage sludge-amended soils.