title: Assessment of Giant Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza L. Schleiden) Turions as Model Objects in Ecotoxicological Applications.
abstract: In this study germination of Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden (giant duckweed) turions was assessed under cadmium exposure to test applicability of a novel turion-based ecotoxicology method. Floating success of germinating turions, protrusion of the first and subsequent fronds as test endpoints were investigated and compared to results of standard duckweed growth inhibition tests with fronds of the same species. Our results indicate that turions can be used to characterize effects of toxic substances. Initial phase of turion germination (floating up and appearance of the first frond) was less sensitive to Cd treatments than the subsequent frond production. The calculated effective concentrations for growth rates in turion and normal frond tests were similar. Single frond area produced by germinating turions proved to be the most sensitive test endpoint. Single frond area and colony disintegration as additionally measured parameters in normal frond cultures also changed due to Cd treatments but the sensitivity of these parameters was lower than that of growth rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oláh
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hepp
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary. immeszaros@unideb.hu.
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8841-730X
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mészáros
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium
keywords: Cadmium; Germination test; Growth inhibition test; Vegetative propagule