title: Effects of atmospheric pollutants on somatic and germ cells of Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt cv. purpurea.
abstract: Anatomical alterations in leaves and DNA damage in cells caused by the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants can be measured by epidermal leaf analyses and Tradescantia micronuclei assay with early pollen tetrad cells. The present study examined the feasibility of using somatic and germ cells of Tradescantia pallida for biomonitoring purposes in the city of Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. Stomatal, micronucleus and epidermal leaf analyses were performed, using standard methodologies, on plants growing at three locations during six different time periods. Tradescantia micronuclei data were analyzed using SAS 9.2 software package and stomatal data were analyzed using SANEST software. Analyses of stomatal characteristics and micronuclei examination in T. pallida were found to be an efficient tool for monitoring atmospheric pollution. The micronucleus assay suggested that the number of micronuclei in early pollen tetrad cells was related to the intensity of vehicular traffic. Increased number of epidermal cells and stomata and increased stomatal density observed at locations with greater vehicular traffic are likely physiological responses of those plants to the increased gas exchange in highly polluted environments.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais/FCBA, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados/UFGD, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Bruno A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Crispim
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais/FCBA, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados/UFGD, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana C V
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spósito
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais/FCBA, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados/UFGD, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosilda M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mussury
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias/FCA, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados/UFGD, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Leonardo O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Seno
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais/FCBA, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados/UFGD, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alexéia B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Grisolia
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects; D034823:Tradescantia / Q000187:drug effects*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions