Differences in X-ray absorption due to cadmium treatment in Saponaria officinalis leaves.
A method for detecting cadmium uptake in leaves of Saponaria officinalis doped with a solution of cadmium acetate is described. The technique based on the exposure of dried leaves to X-rays of a wavelength close to that of the metal K-edge could be useful for phytoremediation studies as it could reveal the bioaccumulation in plants due to the treatment either in vivo or in vitro with heavy metals. X-ray microradiography measurements are in agreement with those from peroxidase enzyme assay utilized to follow the oxidative damage induced by heavy metals. At present, as we will see in this report, microradiography has still poorer sensitivity in comparison with enzyme assay, but it has the advantage of being faster, not destructive, and usable even at very high doping levels, where the enzyme assay technique results are fully saturated. Further analysis of the optical density values could lead to a quantitative measurement of the heavy metal in the sample. Thus, the technology developed in this article could be useful for tracing the intake in phytoremediation studies.
Università di L'Aquila, Dipartimento di Fisica and INFM,INFN-LNGS, 67010, Coppito L'Aquila, Italy. Lucia.Reale@tiscali.it
Lucia
L
Reale
Antonia
A
Lai
Adele
A
Tucci
Anna
A
Poma
Anatoly
A
Faenov
Tania
T
Pikuz
Francesco
F
Flora
Laura
L
Spano
Tania
T
Limongi
Libero
L
Palladino
Antonio
A
Ritucci
Giuseppe
G
Tomassetti
Giovanni
G
Petrocelli
Massimo
M
Francucci
Sergio
S
Martellucci
D000042:Absorption; D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008852:Microradiography / Q000379:methods*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D029750:Saponaria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014965:X-Rays
D000085:Acetates; D002104:Cadmium; C028031:cadmium acetate; D009195:Peroxidase