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Leaf Morpho-anatomical Structure Determines Differential Response Among Restinga Species Exposed to Emissions from an Iron Ore Pelletizing Plant

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Abstract

An iron ore pelletizing plant in southeastern Brazil exposes the tropical coastal ecosystems known as restinga to emissions of dust, iron solid particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide (SO2). We aimed to assess the effects of those emissions on the leaf morphology and anatomy of the restinga species Byrsonima sericea, Cordia verbenacea, and Psidium guineense by evaluating visual symptomatology and analyzing the anatomical and micromorphological alterations resulting from exposure. Leaves were collected from individuals growing at two sites: a restinga forest fragment located 800 m away from the pelletizing plant and a restinga conservation unit 20 km away, which served as reference site. In all three species, individuals growing near the pelletizing plant showed necrotic regions on the leaf and foliar micromorphological alterations like turgor loss of epidermal cells, cuticle and epicuticular wax erosion, stomatal obliteration, and rupture and plasmolysis of trichomes. Anatomically, we found cell collapse, cell hypertrophy, and formation of a wound tissue. C. verbenacea showed the most severe visual and anatomical damage, being thus considered the most sensitive species to emissions. Leaf structural features such as uniseriate epidermis, lack of hypodermis, and presence of trichomes contributed to the highest sensitivity of C. verbenacea. Our findings reinforce the importance of performing morpho-anatomical studies to elucidate how leaf structure determines differential sensitivity to airborne pollutants in native species.

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Acknowledgments

We also thank SAMARCO Mining Company and Núcleo de Microscopia e Microanálise at UFV.

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001. National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil, provided support for the research productivity scholarship granted to L.C. Silva 309308/2018-6.

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Author notes

  1. Larisse de Freitas-Silva

    Present address: Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas, BA, 44380-000, Brazil

  2. Diego Ismael Rocha

    Present address: Universidade Federal de Jataí, Jatai, Goiás, 75801-615, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Vicosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil

    Luzimar Campos da Silva, Larisse de Freitas-Silva, Diego Ismael Rocha, Janaína da Silva Castro Pereira & Débora Evelyn de Freitas Assis

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  1. Luzimar Campos da Silva
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Correspondence to Luzimar Campos da Silva.

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da Silva, L.C., de Freitas-Silva, L., Rocha, D.I. et al. Leaf Morpho-anatomical Structure Determines Differential Response Among Restinga Species Exposed to Emissions from an Iron Ore Pelletizing Plant. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 152 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04533-x

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