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Contaminant bioavailability in soil and phytotoxicity/genotoxicity tests in Vicia faba L.: a case study of boron contamination

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Abstract

In this work, the model plant for genotoxicity studies Vicia faba L. was used to investigate the relation between Boron (B) content and bioavailability in soil and plant genotoxic/phytotoxic response. A total of nine soil samples were investigated: two soil samples were collected from a B-polluted industrial area in Cecina (Tuscany, Italy), the other samples were obtained by spiking control soil (from a not polluted area of the basin) with seven increased doses of B, from about 20 to 100 mg B kg−1. As expected, B availability, evaluated by chemical extraction, was higher (twofold) in spiked soils when compared with collected polluted soils with the same B total content. To analyze the phytotoxic effects of B, seed germination, root elongation, biomass production, and B accumulation in plant tissues were considered in V. faba plants grown in the various soils. Moreover, the cytotoxic/genotoxic effects of B were investigated in root meristems by mitotic index (MI) and micronuclei frequency (MCN) analysis. The results highlighted that V. faba was a B-sensitive plant and the appearance of phytotoxic effects, which altered plant growth parameters, were linearly correlated to the bioavailable B concentration in soils. Concerning the occurrence of cytotoxic/genotoxic effects induced by B, no linear correlation was observed even if MCN frequency was logarithmic correlated with the concentration of B bioavailable in soils.

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Acknowledgment

Research was funded by Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela Ambientale within the framework of the Programme Agreement - Community Directive 2000/60/CE on “Remediation and Environmental Recover of ex-Mining Site in the Area of the Cecina River in the quality of pilot basin”. The authors wish to thank Virginia Giansoldati, Irene Rosellini, and Manuele Scatena for valuable technical assistance.

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  1. National Research Council - Institute of Ecosystem Study, Section of Pisa, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Meri Barbafieri

  2. National Research Council - Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, Section of Pisa, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Lucia Giorgetti

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  1. Meri Barbafieri
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  2. Lucia Giorgetti
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Correspondence to Meri Barbafieri or Lucia Giorgetti.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Meri Barbafieri and Lucia Giorgetti contributed equally to the work

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Barbafieri, M., Giorgetti, L. Contaminant bioavailability in soil and phytotoxicity/genotoxicity tests in Vicia faba L.: a case study of boron contamination. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 24327–24336 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7653-6

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