Structural Changes Of Plants As A Test-system
Structural changes of plants as a test-system
for evaluation genotoxicity
of the environmental contaminants
E. Lokutova2, D.Shvets1, G.Bogdanov2
1Institute for Sorption and Endoecology Problems, Ukrainian National Academy Sciences, General Naumov st. 13, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine,
e-mail: dshvets@ispe.kiev.ua
2National Agrarian University, Kyiv, Ukraine
The intensifyed influencing of toxins of a various nature (ions of heavy metals, radionuclides, pesticides etc.) causes disturbances in ecosystems (water, soil, plants). It results not only in changes of properties of plants and animals, but also bring into existence the new forms of diseases or their varieties. Therefore the study of behavior of ecosystem objects under affecting of ecotoxins is of a special interest, as it will allow to develop methodology and to propose test – system for estimation genotoxicity under affecting of environmental pollutants.
Earlier [1-2] it was shown, that the plants can be used as a test – system describing mobility of radionuclides in a system soil – sorbent – plant. Moreover in work [3] it was shown, that the estimation of genotoxicity of plants can be realized, analyzing also changes of a series of plants (barley, tobacco, arabidopsys).
At the same time it may be suggested, that the pollen of plants is ideally suited for revealing transgene changes under affecting of ecotoxins, where both most relevant enzymes, and microelements, protein, amino acid, concentrate and that is one of the most responsive systems to negative influencing of ecotoxins.
In the work the studies of structural changes of pollen of plants (size, shape, exterior constitution, changes of grains colour etc.) under influencing of the unfavorable factors, first of all, of radionuclides were carried out. It is specially actual for prediction of influencing of radionuclides at the territory of Ukraine.
With use of methods of X-ray crystal analysis, scanning submicroscopy and the radiometry the microelement composition and structural variations of
pollen of plants being, on the one hand, effective generators of radionuclides, with another being such as a herb are studied. It was found, that depending on the content of radionuclides in soil, the regulation of their migration capacity in a plant, the changes in structure elements of pollen, and, what is completely unexpected, its color gamma are observed. It testifies, in our opinion, to deep deflections in biochemical and biophysical processes in a system soil – sorbent - plant on the territories contaminated with ecotoxins.
The correlation between structural variations, variation of color gamma, genotoxicity and extent of contamination is detected.
The concrete examples, illustrated the possibility of use of pollen of plants as tests - system for biotesting structural changes of plants are presented depending on an extent of contamination of grounds.
It was concluded, that the pollen of plants as a structural - sensing element can be used as complex system for biotesting pollution of internment permitting to receive the operative information about genotoxic influencing of various toxic substances, including radionuclides. It is necessary for comprehension of the distant consequences of influencing ecotoxins, and for development of criteria of cultivation of ecologically clean herb.
References
1. V.Strelko, N.Openko, E.Diyuk, O.Glushachenko, D.Shvets. Carboncontaining sorbents in the processes of phytoremediation of radiopolluted soils. Ext.Abstr., 24th Biennial Conf. on Carbon, 1999, Vol.2, p.702-703.
2. V.Strelko, D.Shvets, S.Mikhalovsky. Phytosorption method of decontamination of soils polluted with heavy metals and radionuclides.2001 International Containment & Remediation Technology Conference, Orlando, Fla. Book of Abstract, p.142.
3. D.Grodzinsky, B.Sorochinsky, E.Kurdyum. Plant test-systems for estimation genotoxicity of radionuclide contamination of environment. International Conference “Fifteen Years after the Chornobyl Accident”. Lesson Learned. Kyiv-2001, p.2-67.
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