title: Effects of chitosan on growth of an aquatic plant (Hydrilla verticillata) in polluted waters with different chemical oxygen demands.
abstract: Effects of chitosan on a submersed plant, Hydrilla verticillata, were investigated. Results indicated that H. verticillata could prevent ultrastructure phytotoxicities and oxidativereaction from polluted water with high chemical oxygen demand (COD). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in H. verticillata treated with 0.1% chitosan in wastewater increased with high COD (980 mg/L) and decreased with low COD (63 mg/L), respectively. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the stroma and grana of chloroplast basically remained normal. However, plant cells from the control experiment (untreated with chitosan) were vacuolated and the cell interval increased. The relict of protoplast moved to the center, with cells tending to disjoint. Our findings indicate that wastewater with high COD concentration can cause a substantial damage to submersed plant, nevertheless, chitosan probably could alleviate the membrane lipid peroxidization and ultrastructure phytotoxicities, and protect plant cells from stress of high COD concentration polluted water.
authors.affiliation: Lake Research Center, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China. xu_qiujin@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Qiu-jin
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yue-gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Nian
authors.forename: Xiang-can
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Chang-zhou
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gao-ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D031321:Hydrocharitaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D048271:Chitosan; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen