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Investigation of low-level 242Pu contamination on nutrition disturbance and oxidative stress in Solanum tuberosum L.

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Abstract

Plutonium associated with higher molecular weight molecules is presumed to be poorly mobile and hardly plant available. In our present study, we investigate the uptake and effects of Pu treatments on Solanum tuberosum plants in amended Hoagland medium at concentrations of [242Pu] = 100 and 500 nm, respectively. We found a direct proof of oxidative stress in the plants caused by these rather low concentrations. For the confirmation of oxidative stress, we explored the production of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by epifluorescence microscopy. Oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidation and superoxide radicals (O2 •−) are monitored through histochemical analysis. The biochemical parameters i.e. chlorophyll and carotenoids are measured as an indicator of cellular damage in the tested plants including the enzymatic parameters such as catalase and glutathione reductase. From our work, we conclude that Pu in low concentration has no significant effects on the uptake of many trace and macroelements. In contrast, the content of O2 •−, malondialdehyde (MDA), and H2O2 increases with increasing Pu concentration in the solution, while the opposite effects was found for NO, catalase, and glutathione reductase. These findings prove that even low concentration of Pu regulates ROS production and generate oxidative stress in S. tuberosum L.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge financial support from the BMBF for FT (funding 02S9082A) and DG (funding 02S9276D). AH thanks the Sasse foundation for their continuous support.

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  1. Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany

    Dharmendra K. Gupta, Frank Tawussi, Alex Hölzer, Linda Hamann & Clemens Walther

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  1. Dharmendra K. Gupta
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  2. Frank Tawussi
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  3. Alex Hölzer
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  4. Linda Hamann
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Correspondence to Dharmendra K. Gupta.

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Responsible editor: Georg Steinhauser

Highlights

1. First time reporting the information related to plutonium NO and H2O2 localization in plants through epifluorescence microscopy.

2. First time reporting histochemical staining of plants under Pu stress.

3. Plutonium in low concentration has no significant effects on the uptake of many trace and macroelements.

4. At low concentration, the presence of Pu influences the production of ROS indirectly due to radiotoxicity.

5. Our finding proves that even low concentration of Pu regulates ROS production and generates oxidative stress in S. tuberosum L.

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Gupta, D.K., Tawussi, F., Hölzer, A. et al. Investigation of low-level 242Pu contamination on nutrition disturbance and oxidative stress in Solanum tuberosum L.. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 16050–16061 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9071-9

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