Short-Term Effects of Arsenate-Induced Toxicity on Growth, Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Contents, and Total Content of Phenolic Compounds of Azolla filiculoides

Abstract

This study evaluated the toxic effects of arsenic (As) on the growth, total antioxidant activity, total content of phenolic compounds, and content of photosynthetic pigments of Azolla filiculoides. The aquatic fern was propagated and exposed to Yoshida nutrient solution contaminated with sodium arsenate (Na 2 HAsO 4 ·7H 2 O) at six concentrations (5, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 120 μgAsmL −1 ), including the control without As contamination. Azolla cultures were kept under environmental chamber conditions 26°C, 12 h photoperiod and 80% HR for 96 h. Increased As concentrations (>30 μgmL −1 ) significantly diminished growth of A. filiculoides and the total content of chlorophyll and total phenolic compounds, but significantly enhanced of total carotenoid+xanthophylls content. The concentrations of 5 and 10 μgAsmL −1 significantly stimulated the growth of A. filiculoides. This aquatic fern tolerates As concentrations lower than 30 μgmL −1 , and its maximum As accumulation (28 μgg −1 dry weight) was achieved when exposed to 60 μg As mL −1 , but showing clear symptoms of As toxicity.

Anthocyanins, thiols, and antioxidant scavenging enzymes are involved in Lemna gibba tolerance to arsenic

“…filiculoides, is much more drastically reduced under similar conditions (Sanchez-Viveros et al 2011). In this manner, the present data demonstrate a great capacity of L. gibba to accumulate and tolerate high quantities of As.…”

Biosorption of arsenic from groundwater using Vallisneria gigantea plants. Kinetics, equilibrium and photophysical considerations

“…In literature, an inverse correlation between As concentration and chlorophyll content has been reported for relatively high As concentration (5 mg kg À1 in solution and 30 mg kg À1 in soils) (Azizur Rahman et al, 2007;Stoeva and Bineva, 2003;Stoeva et al, 2005). However, in some cases, an opposite behavior was found (Shaibur and Kawai, 2009;Sánchez-Viveros et al, 2011). In this work, an increase in chlorophyll content with As presence was observed, but no clear correlation between chlorophyll and As concentrations could be inferred.…”

Biochemical and growth performance of the aquatic macrophyte Azolla filiculoides to sub-chronic exposure to cylindrospermopsin

“…The increase in biomass production can be an approach of plants (aquatic or terrestrial) to deal with a cyanobacterial bloom and release of toxic compounds. In fact, environmental pollutants such as heavy metals also induce a growth increase of A. filiculoides exposed at low concentrations (Sánchez-Viveros et al 2011). Moreover, the presence of other water-soluble metabolites in the crude extract (Pietsch et al 2001;Kinnear et al 2008) especially at lower concentrations may interfere with the CYN toxic effects in A. filiculoides and thus the fern grow at a rate superior to the control.…”

“…Nothing is known about the effects of CYN in carotenoids in aquatic or terrestrial plants but in the present research carotenoids content follows the same pattern of chlorophylls meaning their highest content was obtained at 5 lg CYN mL -1 . A. filiculoides intoxicated with arsenate (another water contaminant) induced a decline in chlorophylls and an increase in carotenoids (Sánchez-Viveros et al 2011). Increase in chlorophylls and carotenoids when A. filiculoides has showed almost 100 % growth inhibition seems contradictory, but may reveal that this aquatic fern handle with the deleterious effects of CYN or other compounds present in the crude extract though the increase of those photosynthetic pigments.…”