Trace elements present in airborne particulate matter--stressors of plant metabolism.
Changes of amino acid concentrations (glutamic acid, glutamine, asparagine, aspartate, proline, tryptophan, alanine, glycine, valine and serine), gas-exchange parameters (net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO(2) concentration) and nitrate levels in Lactuca serriola L. under airborne particulate matter (PM) contamination reported here reveal their role in plant chronic stress adaptation. Results of the pot experiment confirmed the toxic effect of trace elements present in PM for lettuce. PM applied to soil or on the lettuce leaves were associated with the strong inhibition of above-ground biomass and with the enhancement of plant trace element contents. The significant changes of amino acid levels and leaf gas-exchange parameters of the plants showed strong linear dependences on PM contamination (R(2)=0.60-0.99). PM application on leaves intensified toxic effect of trace elements (As, Pb, Cr and Cd) originating from PM by shading of the leaf surface. The plant accumulation of nitrate nitrogen after PM contamination confirmed to block nitrate assimilation.
Isotope Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
Milan
M
Pavlík
Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: pavlikova@af.czu.cz.
Daniela
D
Pavlíková
Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic.
Veronika
V
Zemanová
Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic.
František
F
Hnilička
Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic.
Veronika
V
Urbanová
Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic.
Jiřina
J
Száková
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018533:Biomass; D018545:Lactuca / Q000378:metabolism; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D000393:Air Pollutants; D009566:Nitrates; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements; D009584:Nitrogen