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Use of Biomarkers in Assessing Health and Environmental Impacts of Chemical Pollutants pp 247–253Cite as

Detection of Genotoxicity of Water and Air Pollutants Using Tradescantia (Spiderwort) Plants

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 250))

Abstract

Gene mutation and chromosome breakage are the biomarkers of the damage inflicted by environmental pollutants in Tradescantia (spiderwort) plants. Gaseous or liquid agents in the environment can be easily absorbed by this plant through gaseous diffusion or liquid translocation via its vascular system to reach the target cells in the young flower buds. The special spiderwort clone 4430 which is a hybrid and heterozygous (Pr/pr) for purplish blue (Pr) and pink (pr) in its stamen hair cells. Mutation from Pr to pr induced by mutagens will yield pink colored cells among the dominant purplish blue colored cells in the stamen hair. Based upon this principle, the Tradescantia-Stamen-Hair-Mutation (Trad-SHM) bioassay was developed41,42,57. In this clone of plants, broken pieces of chromosomes in the meiotic microspore mother cells induced by clastogens will form micronuclei (MCN) in the tetrads, the end products of meiosis. Formation of MCNs which are visible under a microscope (400X magnification) serves as the marker of the genetic damage. This was the foundation for the development of the Tradescantia-Micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay24. Since the late 70s, the Trade scantia clone 4430 has been used as a dual test system for in aitu monitoring or in laboratory screening of environmental mutagens and clastogens.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL, 61455, USA

    Te-Hsiu Ma

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  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

    Curtis C. Travis

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Ma, TH. (1993). Detection of Genotoxicity of Water and Air Pollutants Using Tradescantia (Spiderwort) Plants. In: Travis, C.C. (eds) Use of Biomarkers in Assessing Health and Environmental Impacts of Chemical Pollutants. NATO ASI Series, vol 250. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2052-2_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2052-2_23

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