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Morpho-physiological and molecular responses of Lepidium sativum L. seeds induced by bismuth exposure

TitleMorpho-physiological and molecular responses of Lepidium sativum L. seeds induced by bismuth exposure
Publication TypeArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsPassatore, L., Pietrini F., Carloni S., Massimi L., Giusto C., Zacchini M., and Iannilli Valentina
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume831
ISSN00489697
KeywordsAlkaline comet assay, Bismuth compounds, Cultivation, Deionized water, ecotoxicity, Garden cress, Genotoxicities, Germination index, Heavy metals, Lepidium sativum, Medical applications, Molecular response, Physiological models, physiological response, Plant information, Plantlets, Toxicity
Abstract

Bismuth (Bi) is considered a “green metal” as its toxicity has been reported to be lower than other metals, particularly lead. Even though the low presence in the environment, an increase of Bi concentrations in soil and wastewater is predictable due to its enhanced uses for many industrial and medical applications. Therefore, given the little literature on the matter, particularly in plants, information on the effects of Bi on living organisms is needed. In this study, seeds of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.), a model plant for ecotoxicological assays (OECD), were exposed to increasing Bi concentrations (0 to 485 mg L−1 Bi(NO3)3·5H2O in deionised water) in petri plates. After 72 h, the percent germination index (GI%) revealed no effects at the lowest Bi concentrations, while a slight toxicity occurred at 242 and 485 mg L−1 Bi nitrate. A significant reduction of the root length was observed in Bi-treated seedlings, especially at the highest Bi concentrations. Consistently, the Alkaline Comet Assay revealed a genotoxic effect induced by Bi exposure in garden cress seedlings. A Bi concentration-dependent metal accumulation in plantlets was also observed, with a Bi concentration higher than 1200 mg kg−1 found in plantlets at the highest Bi concentration assayed. The toxicity effects observed in the study were discussed, as contribution to the expansion of knowledge on Bi ecotoxicity and genotoxicity in plants. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

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URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85127465320&doi=10.1016%2fj.scitotenv.2022.154896&partnerID=40&md5=725c6b07d259b811dbbde5cf91f9ec34
DOI10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154896
Citation KeyPassatore2022