title: Quaternary ammonium salts with tetrafluoroborate anion: Phytotoxicity and oxidative stress in terrestrial plants.
abstract: This paper discusses the impact of four quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) such as tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate [TEA][BF4], tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate [TBA][BF4], tetrahexylammonium tetrafluoroborate [THA][BF4], and tetraoctylammonium tetrafluoroborate [TOA][BF4] on the growth and development of spring barley and common radish. Analogous tests were performed with the inorganic salt ammonium tetrafluoroborate [A][BF4] for comparison purposes. Results indicated that the phytotoxicity of the QAS applied is dependent on the concentration of the substance and their number of carbon atoms. The most toxic compound was [TBA][BF4], causing the greatest drop in fresh weight of both study plants, similar to the phytotoxic effects of [A][BF4]. All the tested compounds caused oxidative stress in spring barley and common radish seedlings due to a drop in the chlorophyll content. Stress was also observed in plants, which was indicated by the increased level of ROS (reactive oxygen species) such as H2O2 and lipid peroxidation of MDA (malondialdehyde). Due to the stress, both plants displayed changes in the activity of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD). Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that changes in chlorophyll levels and peroxidase activity are the best biomarkers to determine oxidative stress in plants.
authors.affiliation: Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Institute of Chemistry, Environmental Protection and Biotechnology, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland. Electronic address: r.biczak@ajd.czest.pl.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biczak
mesh_terms: D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D001881:Borates; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D001467:Hordeum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D031224:Raphanus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D001881:Borates; D001888:Boric Acids; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C037184:chlorophyll b; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C098759:fluoroboric acid; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Antioxidant enzyme activity; Oxidative stress; Photosynthetic pigments; Phytotoxicity; Quaternary ammonium salts