title: Antimony (SbIII) reduces growth, declines photosynthesis, and modifies leaf tissue anatomy in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).
abstract: The role of antimony (Sb)--a non-essential trace metalloid--in physiological processes running in crops is still poorly understood. Present paper describes the effect of Sb tartrate (SbIII) on growth, Sb uptake, photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigments, and leaf tissue organization in young sunflower plants grown in hydroponics. We found that growth of below- and aboveground part was reduced with increasing concentration of Sb in the medium. Although Sb was mostly taken up by sunflower roots and only small part (1-2%) was translocated to the shoots, decline in photosynthesis, transpiration, and decreased content of photosynthetic pigments were observed. This indicates that despite relatively low mobility of Sb in root-shoot system, Sb in shoot noticeably modifies physiological status and reduced plant growth. Additionally, leaf anatomical changes indicated that Sb reduced the size of intercellular spaces and made leaf tissue more compact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina B2, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia. vaculik@fns.uniba.sk.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaculík
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina B2, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.|Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Šafárik University, Mánesova 23, 041 67, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mrázová
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina B2, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lux
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D006368:Helianthus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018527:Hydroponics; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D000965:Antimony
keywords: Aerenchyma; Antimony (SbIII); Chlorophyll; Element toxicity; Leaf tissue structure; Translocation; Transpiration