Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Toxicity testing of heavy metals with theRhizobium-legume symbiosis: High sensitivity to cadmium and arsenic compounds

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Legume root nodules are the site of biological nitrogen fixation in theRhizobium-legame symbiosis. Nodules are structures unique to this symbiosis and they are morphologically as well as physiologically distinct from other plant organs. Organic substances affecting the macro- or microsymbionts vitality, such as PAHs (Wetzel et al., 1991), reduce nodulation even before visible damage to the plant can be detected. We present data that the formation of nodules (nodulation) may also serve for ecotoxicological evaluation of heavy metals in different binding states.

Tests were performed in petri dishes with alfalfa (lucerne) seedlings inoculated withRhizobium meliloti. Cultivation took place in growth cabinets with carefully standardized and documented growth conditions. Data from stressed plants was recorded after 14 days of cultivation on contaminated substrate. A dose responsive decrease in nodulation was found after application of cadmium acetate, cadmium iodide, cadmium chloride, sodium salts of arsenate and arsenite, arsenic pentoxide, and lead nitrate, whereas lead acetate showed no effect up to a concentration of 3 μM. The dose response curves were used to calculate EC10, EC50 and EC90 values. EC50 values for cadmium compounds range from 1.5 to9.5 pM. Testing different arsenic compounds results in EC50 from 2.6 to 20.1 μM. EC50 of lead nitrate is 2.2 μM. The sensitivity, reproducibility and reliability of this test system is discussed compared to established biotests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angle J.S.;McGrath S.P.;Chaudri A.M.;Chaney R.L.;Giller K.E.: Inoculation effects on legumes grown in soil previously treated with sewage sludge. Soil Biol. Biochem. 25: 575–580 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ATSDR — Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: Toxicological profile for arsenic. Atlanta U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service (1993)

  • Caetano-Anollés G.;Gresshoff P. M.: Efficiency of nodule initiation and autoregulatory responses in a supernodulating soybean mutant. Appl. Env. Microbiol. 57: 2205–2210 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chino M. In:Kitagishi K.;Yamane I. (Eds.) Heavy metal pollution in soils of Japan. Sci Soc Press, Tokyo, 65–80 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Codina J.C.;Perez-Garcia A.;Romero P.;de Vicente A.: A comparison of microbial bioassays for the detection of metal toxicity. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 25: 250–254 (1993)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DIN 38 412 Teil 34: Bestimmung der Hemmwirkung von Abwasser auf die Lichtemission vonPbotobacterium phosphoreum - Leuchtbakterien-Abwassertest mit konservierten Bakterien (L34). Testverfahren mit Wasserorganismen (Gruppe L). (1991)

  • Falbe J.;Regitz M.: Römpp Chemie Lexikon. 9. Auflage, Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart New York (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham P.H.;Draeger K.J.;Ferrey M.L.;Conroy M.J.;Hammer B.E.;Martinez E.;Aarons S.R.;Quinto C.: Acid pH tolerance in strains ofRhizobium andBradyrhizobium, and initial studies on the basis for acid tolerance ofRhizobium tropici UMR 1899. Can. J. Microbiol. 40: 198–207 (1994)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC; Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: Lead [7439-92-1] and lead compounds, inorganic; Lead, organo [75-74-1], [78-00-2] An Updating of IARC Monographs Volume 23, Supplement No. 7 (1987)

  • IARC; Some inorganic and organometallic compounds; IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 2 (1973)

  • IARC; Some metals and metallic compounds; IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 23 (1980)

  • IARC; Beryllium, cadmium, mercury and exposures in the glass manufacturing industry; IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 58 (1993)

  • ISO/DIS 11268-2: Soil Quality — Effects of pollutants on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) - Part 2. Method for the determination of effects on reproduction. (1994)

  • ISO 11269-1: Soil Quality — Determination of the effects of pollutants on soil flora — Part 1. Method for the measurement of root growth. (1994)

  • ISO/DIS 11269-2: Soil Quality — Determination of the effects of pollutants on soil flora — Part 2. Effects of chemicals on the emergence and growth of higher plants. (1994)

  • Landberg T.;Greger M.: Influence of selenium on uptake and toxicity of copper and cadmium in pea (Pisum sativum) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Physiologia Plantarum 90: 637–644 (1994)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liebig G.E;Bradford G.R.;Vanselow A.P.: Soil Sci. 88: 342–348 (1959)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ligero F.;Caba J.M.;Lluch C.;Olivares J.: Nitrate inhibition of nodulation can be overcome by the ethylene inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine. Plant Physiol. 97: 1221–1225 (1991)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lussen H.;Rahman A.: Wurzellängentest mit Gartenkresse — ein einfacher ökotoxikologischer Test. Vom Wasser 54: 29–35 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters N.K.;Long S.R.: Alfalfa root exudates and compounds which promote or inhibit induction ofRhizobium meliloti nodulation genes. Plant Physiol. 88: 396–400 (1988)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Streit B.: Lexikon Ökotoxikologie. 1. Auflage, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallnöfer P.R.;Engelhardt G.: Schadstoffe, die aus dem Boden aufgenommen werden. In: Schadwirkungen auf pflanzen.Elstner E.F.;Hock B. (Eds.), BI-Wiss.-Verl., Zürich, 95–117 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner D.: Pflanzliche und mikrobielle Symbiosen. 1. Auflage, Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart New York (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel A.;Klante G.;Werner D.: Biotoxizitätstests mit PAK - Die Nodulation in der Leguminosen-Rhizobien-Symbiose als sensibler Wirkungsparameter. UWSF — Z. Umweltchem. Ökotox. 3: 66–271 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel A.;Werner D.: Ecotoxicological evaluation of contaminated soil using the legume root nodule symbiosis as effect parameter. Environmental Toxicology and Water Quality 10: 127–133 (1995)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel A.;Parniske M.;Werner D.: The pleiotropic effects of fluoanthene on anthocyanin synthesis and nodulation ofMedicago sativa is reversed by the plant flavone luteolin. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 54: 633–639 (1995)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wichmann H.E.;Schlipköter H.W.;Fülgraf G.: Handbuch der Umweltmedizin. 3. Lieferung, ecomed Verlag, Landsberg (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zierdt M.: Umweltmonitoring mit natürlichen Indikatoren. 1. Auflage, Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York (1997)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. FG Zellbiologie und Angewandte Botanik, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße, D-35032, Marburg, Germany

    Heike Neumann, Anne Bode-Kirchhoff, Andrea Madeheim & Astrid Wetzel

Authors
  1. Heike Neumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anne Bode-Kirchhoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrea Madeheim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Astrid Wetzel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Neumann, H., Bode-Kirchhoff, A., Madeheim, A. et al. Toxicity testing of heavy metals with theRhizobium-legume symbiosis: High sensitivity to cadmium and arsenic compounds. Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 5, 28–36 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986371

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986371

Keywords

Search

Navigation