Effects of aluminium ion on root growth, cell division, and nucleoli of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Subcellular distribution of aluminum associated with differential cell ultra-structure, mineral uptake, and antioxidant enzymes in root of two different Al+3-resistance watermelon cultivars

Crop plants, such as watermelon, suffer from severe Aluminum (Al³⁺)-toxicity in acidic soils with their primary root elongation being first arrested. However, the significance of apoplastic or symplastic Al³⁺-toxicity in watermelon root is scarcely reported. In this work, we identified a medium fruit type (ZJ) and a small fruit type (NBT) as Al⁺³-tolerant and sensitive based on their differential primary root elongation rate respectively, and used them to show the effects of symplastic besides apoplastic Al distribution in the watermelon's root. Although the Al content was higher in the root of NBT than ZJ, Al⁺³ allocated in their apoplast, vacuole and plastid fractions were not significantly different between the two cultivars. Thus, only a few proportion of Al⁺³ differentially distributed in the nucleus and mitochondria corresponded to interesting differential morphological and physiological disorders recorded in the root under Al⁺³-stress. The symplastic amount of Al⁺³ substantially induced the energy efficient catalase pathway in ZJ, and the energy consuming ascorbate peroxidase pathway in NBT. These findings coincided with obvious starch granule visibility in the root ultra-structure of ZJ than NBT, suggesting a differential energy was used in supporting the root elongation and nutrient uptake for Al⁺³-tolerance in the two cultivars. This work provides clues that could be further investigated in the identification of genetic components and molecular mechanisms associated with Al⁺³-tolerance in watermelon.

Effect of coal mining activities and related industry on composition, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of surrounding soils

Coal mining and related industries each leave their characteristic "metal fingerprint" in the surrounding soils. Although geochemical investigations of such soils most often indicate heavy contamination with certain metals and bioassays point to their cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, the majority of studies are based on only one of the mentioned approaches. Here, the presented study investigated the effect of coal mining activities and related industry on surrounding soils by means of both geochemical and biological tools. The multielement composition of soils and associated eluates were used for the assessment of soil contamination level and the element bioavailable fractions, respectively. For cytotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluation, shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) roots were exposed to selected soil eluates. Root growth, frequency of mitosis, mitotic and chromosomal abnormalities in root meristem cells, level of lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage evaluated by a comet assay were scored as toxicity endpoints. The results point to significant differences in the composition of collected soils and a variety of factors that contribute not only to their total metal load but also to the observed cytotoxic and genotoxic effects; all of which emphasize the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in assessing the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment, especially in historical mining areas.

Cytogenetic Abnormalities in Seed Progenies of Pinus Pallasiana D. Don Stands from Technogenic Polluted Lands in the Steppe of Ukraine

In this study, we compare the pathological mitosis rates, chromosomal abnormalities and nucleolar organizer activity in Pinus pallasiana D. Don seedlings from natural population in the Crimean Mountains and from the urban plantations in the steppe of Ukraine. On the stages of anaphase and telophase of mitosis, such chromosomal abnormalities as bridges were most often found in the seeds of plantations exposed to air pollutants, whereas lead and agglutination of chromosomes were found in seeds from iron ore dump stands. Our studies have shown that P. pallasiana can be used for genotoxic monitoring of technogenic polluted lands.

Accumulation and cellular toxicity of aluminum in seedling of Pinus massoniana

BACKGROUND

Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) is one of the most important timber species with adaptable, fast growing, versatile advantages in southern China. Despite considerable research efforts, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of A1 toxicity and resistance in P. massoniana are still poorly understood. The effects of Al on uptake and translocation of Al and other minerals, cell division and nucleolus in P. massoniana were investigated.

RESULTS

The results indicated that Al accumulated mainly in the roots, and small amounts were transported to aboveground organs. In the presence of Al, the contents of Mg and Fe in stems increased and decreased in roots. Accumulation of Mn in the organs was inhibited significantly. Evidence from cellular experiments showed that Al had an inhibitory effect on the root growth at all concentrations (10⁻⁵ - 10⁻² M) used. Chromosome fragments, chromosome bridges, C-mitosis and chromosome stickiness were induced during mitosis in the root tip cells. Al induced the formation of abnormal microtubule (MT) arrays, consisting of discontinuous wavy MTs or short MT fragments at the cell periphery. MT organization and function of the mitotic spindle and phragmoplast were severely disturbed. The nucleolus did not disaggregate normally and still remained its characteristic structure during metaphase. Nucleolar particles containing argyrophilic proteins were accumulated and leached out from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Evidence confirmed that these proteins contained nucleophosmin (B23), nucleolin (C23) and fibrillarin. Western immunoblot analysis revealed that the contents of three nucleolar proteins increased significantly.

CONCLUSION

Based on the information provided in this article, it is concluded that root tips of plants are the most sensitive organ to environmental stresses and the accumulation of Al ions primarily is in roots of P. massoniana, and small amounts of Al are transported to aboveground. Root apical meristems play a key role in the immediate reaction to stress factors by activating signal cascades to the other plant organs. Al induces a series of the cellular toxic changes concerning with cell division and nucleolus. The data presented above can be also used as valuable and early markers in cellular changes induced by metals for the evaluation of metal contamination.

The rhizotoxicity of metal cations is related to their strength of binding to hard ligands

Mechanisms whereby metal cations are toxic to plant roots remain largely unknown. Aluminum, for example, has been recognized as rhizotoxic for approximately 100 yr, but there is no consensus on its mode of action. The authors contend that the primary mechanism of rhizotoxicity of many metal cations is nonspecific and that the magnitude of toxic effects is positively related to the strength with which they bind to hard ligands, especially carboxylate ligands of the cell-wall pectic matrix. Specifically, the authors propose that metal cations have a common toxic mechanism through inhibiting the controlled relaxation of the cell wall as required for elongation. Metal cations such as Al(3+) and Hg(2+), which bind strongly to hard ligands, are toxic at relatively low concentrations because they bind strongly to the walls of cells in the rhizodermis and outer cortex of the root elongation zone with little movement into the inner tissues. In contrast, metal cations such as Ca(2+), Na(+), Mn(2+), and Zn(2+) , which bind weakly to hard ligands, bind only weakly to the cell wall and move farther into the root cylinder. Only at high concentrations is their weak binding sufficient to inhibit the relaxation of the cell wall. Finally, different mechanisms would explain why certain metal cations (for example, Tl(+), Ag(+), Cs(+), and Cu(2+)) are sometimes more toxic than expected through binding to hard ligands. The data presented in the present study demonstrate the importance of strength of binding to hard ligands in influencing a range of important physiological processes within roots through nonspecific mechanisms.

Aluminum induces chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, and cell cycle dysfunction in root cells of Vicia faba

Aluminum (Al) exists naturally in air, water, and soil, and also in our diet. Al can be absorbed into the human body and accumulates in different tissues, which has been linked to the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease and various neurological disorders. By using Vicia cytogenetic tests, which are commonly used to monitor the genotoxicity of environmental pollutants, cytogenetic effects of aluminum (AlCl(3)) were investigated in this study. Present results showed that Al caused significant increases in the frequencies of micronuclei (MN) and anaphase chromosome aberrations in Vicia faba root tips exposed to Al over a concentration-tested range of 0.01-10 mM for 12 h. The frequency of micronucleated cells was higher in Al-treated groups at pH 4.5 than that at pH 5.8. Similarly, AlCl(3) treatment caused a decrease in the number of mitotic cells in a dose- and pH-dependent manner. The number of cells in each mitotic phase changed in Al-treated samples. Mitotic indices (MI) decreased with the increases of pycnotic cells. Our results demonstrate that aluminum chloride is a clear clastogenic/genotoxic and cytotoxic agent in Vicia root cells. The V. faba cytogenetic test could be used for the genotoxicity monitoring of aluminum water contamination.