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Antimony induced structural and ultrastructural changes in Trapa natans.
Sangita Baruah1, Monashree Sarma Bora1, Sanghita Dutta1
1Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur, Assam, India.
Scientific Reports
|May 22, 2021
Summary
Trapa natans accumulates toxic antimony (Sb) and shows structural damage. The plant uses vacuole and cell wall compartmentalization as a detoxification strategy against Sb stress.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Antimony (Sb) is a priority toxic metalloid with no known biological function.
- Understanding Sb accumulation and phytotoxicity in plants is crucial for environmental risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the subcellular accumulation of ecotoxic antimony (Sb) in Trapa natans.
- To determine the ultrastructural damage caused by Sb exposure in different vegetative parts of T. natans.
Main Methods:
- Hydroponic experiment exposing T. natans to varying Sb(III) concentrations (1.5, 40, 60 μmol/L).
- Utilized scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for ultrastructural analysis.
- Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were calculated; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyzed plant biomass.
Main Results:
- T. natans acts as a phytoexcluder at high Sb concentrations (40, 60 μmol/L) but translocates Sb to aerial parts at low concentrations (1.5 μmol/L).
- SEM revealed Sb-induced changes in stomatal aperture, intercellular spaces, and vascular bundles.
- TEM showed Sb compartmentalization within vacuoles and cell walls as electron-dense deposits, indicating a detoxification mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Trapa natans exhibits distinct Sb accumulation and translocation patterns based on concentration.
- Subcellular compartmentalization in vacuoles and cell walls is a key detoxification strategy for T. natans under Sb stress.
- FTIR suggests specific metabolites in T. natans contribute to Sb binding.
