title: Phytotoxicity of mercury in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.).
abstract: This study investigated the phytotoxicity of mercury to Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Two common cultivars (Florida Broad Leaf and Long-standing) were grown hydroponically in a mercury-spiked solution. Mercury exhibited a significant phytotoxicity in these two cultivars of Indian mustard at elevated concentrations (>or=2 mg L(-1)). Mercury uptake induced a significant reduction in both biomass and leaf relative water content. Microscopy studies indicated that elevated mercury concentrations in plants significantly changed leaf cellular structure: thickly stained areas surrounding the vascular bundles; decreases in the number of palisade and spongy parenchyma cells; and reduced cell size and clotted depositions. The palisade chloroplasts exhibited decreases in their amounts and starch grains as well as a loss of spindle shape. However, due to high accumulation of mercury in plants, especially in the roots, Indian mustard might be a potential candidate plant for phytofiltration of contaminated water and phytostabilization of mercury-contaminated soils.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clean Energy Technology, Mississippi State University, 205 Research Blvd., Starkville, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Safwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiyab
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fengxiang X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Monts
authors.forename: Frank B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D001937:Brassica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008853:Microscopy; D009149:Mustard Plant / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008628:Mercury