Physiological and biochemical responses of Eichhornia crassipes exposed to Cr (III)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 22, pages3739–3747(2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of exposure of Eichhornia crassipes to Cr (III) was assessed by measuring changes in photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase activities, as well as Cr concentration in tissues. Cr concentration in roots was significantly higher than in aerial parts and increased with Cr concentration in water. Photosynthetic pigments increased significantly, whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes varied differently in plant tissues. Low Cr concentrations induced a rapid response of E. crassipes during short-term exposure, implying that the antioxidant system conferred redox homeostasis. Results showed that Cr (III) was more toxic at the two highest concentrations and long-term exposure, while it was not harmful but beneficial at the two lowest concentrations and short-term exposure. This work concludes that E. crassipes was able to grow under Cr (III) stress by protecting itself with an increase in the activity of its antioxidant system.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this research work was provided by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)-Project CAI + D, and Agencia de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT).

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Affiliations

  1. Química Analítica-Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), U.N.L., Sgo del Estero 2829, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    C. I. González, M. A. Maine & G. C. Sanchez

  2. Laboratorio de Ictiología, Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI-CONICET-UNL) and Dpto. Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias (FHUC-UNL), Paraje El Pozo, Ciudad Universitaria U.N.L., 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    J. Cazenave

  3. Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 1113, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    M. P. Benavides

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  1. C. I. González
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  2. M. A. Maine
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  3. J. Cazenave
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  4. G. C. Sanchez
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  5. M. P. Benavides
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Correspondence to C. I. González.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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González, C.I., Maine, M.A., Cazenave, J. et al. Physiological and biochemical responses of Eichhornia crassipes exposed to Cr (III). Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 3739–3747 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3558-4

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Keywords

  • Oxidative stress
  • Hormesis
  • Antioxidant enzyme defense system
  • Macrophyte
  • Bioaccumulation
  • Lipid peroxidation