title: Cell viability and leakage of electrolytes in Avicennia germinans exposed to heavy metals.
abstract: The effect of heavy metal stress on the cell viability and leakage of electrolytes of Avicennia germinans leaf discs was investigated by the tissue tolerance test. Foliar discs were incubated with different Cd2+ or CU2+ concentrations for 24 h; thereafter, the cell membrane stability of the tissue was assayed by the cell viability Evans blue and leakage electrolytes methods. The results indicated that electrolyte leakage of the leaf discs increased 24 h after exposure to heavy metal stress, as shown by a reduction of the cell viability by 30% in discs exposed to higher doses of Cd2+ (0.546 M) and Cu2+ (0.7 M), respectively. Additionally, the histological analysis of the leaf discs exposed to heavy metal stress revealed that at higher Cd2+ and/or Cu2+ concentrations an increase in the intercellular spaces and destruction of mesophyll cells was observed 24 h after exposure. In summary, the biochemical and structural changes observed in foliar tissues of A. germinans suggest that higher cadmium and copper concentrations may result in structural changes and altered physiological characters in leaves.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (ICA-UABC), Carretera a Delta s/n C.P. 21705, Ejido Nuevo León, Baja California, Mexico. daniasaf@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Mendoza
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quiroz-Moreno
authors.forename: Rosa Escobedo Gracia
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Medrano
authors.forename: Onecimo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grimaldo-Juarez
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zapata-Perez
mesh_terms: D032407:Avicennia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper