title: Molecular evidence for benzo[a]pyrene and naphthalene genotoxicity in Trifolium repens L.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most dangerous environmental contaminants due to their toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. Although there are many data in literature that detail the effects of PAHs on animals, little is known about their action on higher plants which are often used as bioindicators. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of two different PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and naphthalene (Naph), on Trifolium repens L. Clover plants were exposed to soil which had been artificially contaminated with three concentrations of BaP (5, 10 and 20 microg g-1) or Naph (25, 50 and 100 microg g-1). After 15 days, changes in the DNA content and sequence of roots and shoots were evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Root and shoot dry weight were also determined to assess plant growth. Results showed that BaP and Naph were both genotoxic for white clover, inducing significant changes in root and shoot DNA sequence. Damage was more severe in the root than in the shoot suggesting that the translocation of these compounds and their genotoxic metabolites was limited. Ploidy alterations were not detected and the extent of damage caused by all the tested PAH concentrations was not sufficient to affect plant development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza n.1, 20126 Milan, Italy. roberta.aina@unimib.it
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aina
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palin
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Citterio
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D029921:Trifolium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D009153:Mutagens; D009281:Naphthalenes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C031721:naphthalene; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene