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Antimony speciation, phytochelatin stimulation and toxicity in plants
Sepide Abbasi1, Dane T Lamb2, Girish Choppala3
1Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; Environmental Resources Management (ERM), Sydney, Australia.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|April 17, 2022
Summary
Antimony (Sb) is a toxic pollutant. This study reveals Sb binds to plant cell walls, primarily as Sb-polygalacturonic acid, impacting plant metabolism and phytotoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Antimony (Sb) is a priority pollutant with significant environmental impacts.
- Understanding Sb phytotoxicity and its biological transformation in plants is crucial but limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify Sb speciation and transformation in plant roots.
- To assess the phytotoxicity of antimonate (SbV) on six plant species.
- To elucidate the role of plant cell walls in Sb metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Sb K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) was used for speciation and transformation analysis.
- Phytotoxicity was assessed by measuring plant photosynthesis, growth, and phytochelatin production.
- Linear combination fitting and shell fitting were applied to spectral data.
Main Results:
- SbV reduction in plant roots was limited (∼5-33%).
- Sb-polygalacturonic acid was the predominant Sb form (up to 95%), indicating binding to root cell walls.
- SbV was found to bind to cell wall hydroxyl groups, forming a Sb-polygalacturonic acid-like structure.
Conclusions:
- Plant cell walls play a key role in antimony metabolism.
- Sb primarily accumulates in plant root cell walls, influencing its phytotoxicity.
- This study provides novel insights into Sb-plant interactions and cell wall involvement.
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