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The effect of different concentrations of copper and lead on the morphology and physiology of Hypnea musciformis cultivated in vitro: a comparative analysis

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Abstract

Copper and lead, as remnants of industrial activities and urban effluents, have heavily contaminated many aquatic environments. Therefore, this study aimed to determine their effects on the physiological, biochemical, and cell organization responses of Hypnea musciformis under laboratory conditions during a 7-day experimental period. To accomplish this, segments of H. musciformis were exposed to photosynthetic active radiation at 80 μmol photons m−2 s−1, Cu (0.05 and 0.1 mg kg−1), and Pb (3.5 and 7 mg kg−1). Various intracellular abnormalities resulted from exposure to Cu and Pb, including a decrease in phycobiliproteins. Moreover, carotenoid and flavonoid contents, as well as phenolic compounds, were decreased, an apparent reflection of chemical antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species. Treatment with Cu and Pb also caused an increase in the number of floridean starch grains, probably as a defense against nutrient deprivation. Compared to plants treated with lead, those treated with copper showed higher metabolic and ultrastructural alterations. These results suggest that H. musciformis more readily internalizes copper through transcellular absorption. Finally, as a result of ultrastructural damage and metabolic changes observed in plants exposed to different concentrations of Cu and Pb, a significant reduction in growth rates was observed. Nevertheless, the results indicated different susceptibility of H. musciformis to different concentrations of Cu and Pb.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the staff of the Central Laboratory of Electron Microscopy (LCME), Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, for the use of their scanning and transmission electron microscopes. This study was supported, in part, by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil) and Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa Cientifica e Tecnológica do Estado deSanta Catarina (FAPESC, Brazil).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Rodrigo W. Santos, Éder C. Schmidt, Izabela C. Vieira, Giulia B. Costa, Ticiane Rover & Carmen Simioni

  2. Laboratory of Phycology, Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    José Bonomi Barufi

  3. Ecotoxicological Evaluation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Carlos Henrique L. Soares

  4. Central Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Zenilda L. Bouzon

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  1. Rodrigo W. Santos
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  2. Éder C. Schmidt
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Correspondence to Rodrigo W. Santos.

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Handling Editor: Néstor Carrillo

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Supplementary Fig. 1

Morphology of H. musciformis samples after 7 days of treatments. a Control. b, c Samples present bleaching of thallus (arrow). d No bleaching is evident. e Sample showed no bleaching (JPEG 336 kb)

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Santos, R.W., Schmidt, É.C., Vieira, I.C. et al. The effect of different concentrations of copper and lead on the morphology and physiology of Hypnea musciformis cultivated in vitro: a comparative analysis. Protoplasma 252, 1203–1215 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-014-0751-8

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