SpringerLink
Log in

Juncus maritimus root biochemical assessment for its mercury stabilization potential in Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal)

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Major endogenous biochemical properties can make plants ideal agents for metal/metalloid-contaminated site cleanup. This study investigates the biochemistry of Juncus maritimus (Lam) roots for its high mercury (Hg) stabilization potential in the sediments of the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal), which received Hg-rich effluents from a chlor–alkali industry between 1950 and 1994. J. maritimus plants were collected at a reference (R) site and three sites with the highest (L1), moderate (L2), and the lowest (L3) Hg contamination levels. The highest Hg-harboring/stabilizing J. maritimus roots at L1, exhibited significantly elevated damage endpoints (H2O2; lipid peroxidation, LPO; electrolyte leakage, EL; protein oxidation, PO; proline) which were accompanied by differential changes in H2O2-metabolizing defense system components (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase), glutathione reductase and the contents of both reduced and oxidized glutathione. Trends in measured endpoints reached maximum levels at L1 followed by L2 and L3. Cross-talks on root–Hg status and the studied biochemical traits revealed (a) high Hg-accrued elevations in oxidative stress as an obvious response; (b) Hg-stabilization potential of J. maritimus roots as a result of a successful mitigation of elevated high Hg-induced H2O2, and its anomalies such as LPO, EL, and PO; and (c) the induction of and a fine synchronization between non-glutathione and glutathione-based systems. Overall, the study unveiled biochemical mechanisms underlying root tolerance to Hg burden-accrued anomalies which, in turn, helped J. maritimus during Hg-stabilization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aebi H (1984) Catalase in vitro. Method Enzymol 105:121–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad I, Mohmood I, Coelho JP, Pacheco M, Santos MA, Duarte AC, Pereira E (2012) Role of non-enzymatic antioxidants on the bivalves’ adaptation to environmental mercury: Organ-specificities and age effect in Scrobicularia plana inhabiting a contaminated lagoon. Environ Pollut 163:218–225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ali H, Khan E, Sajad MA (2013) Phytoremediation of heavy metals—concepts and applications. Chemosphere 91:869–881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson ME (1985) Determination of glutathione and glutathione disulfides in biological samples. Method Enzymol 113:548–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anjum NA, Ahmad I, Rodrigues SM, Henriques B et al (2013) Eriophorum angustifolium and Lolium perenne metabolic adaptations to metals- and metalloids-induced anomalies in the vicinity of a chemical industrial complex. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:568–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anjum NA, Ahmad I, Válega M, Mohmood I et al (2014a) Salt marsh halophyte services to metal-metalloid remediation: assessment of the processes and underlying mechanisms. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 44:2038–2106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anjum NA, Israr M, Duarte AC, Pereira ME, Ahmad I (2014b) Halimione portulacoides (L.) physiological/biochemical characterization for its adaptive responses to environmental mercury exposure. Environ Res 131:39–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anjum NA, Duarte AC, Pereira E, Ahmad I (2014c) Oxidative stress status, antioxidant metabolism and polypeptide patterns in Juncus maritimus shoots exhibiting differential mercury-burdens in Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal). Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:6652–6661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anjum NA, Ahmad I, Válega M, Pacheco M et al (2012a) Salt marsh macrophyte Phragmites australis strategies assessment for its dominance in mercury-contaminated coastal lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal). Environ Sci Pollut Res 19:2879–2888

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anjum NA, Ahamd I, Mohmood I, Pacheco M, Duarte AC et al (2012b) Modulation of glutathione and its related enzymes in plants’ responses to toxic metals and metalloids—a review. Environ Exp Bot 75:307–324

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anjum NA, Ahmad I, Válega M, Pacheco M et al (2011) Impact of seasonal fluctuations on the sediment-mercury, its accumulation and partitioning in Halimione portulacoides and Juncus maritimus collected from Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal). Water Air Soil Pollut 222:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bates LS, Waldran RP, Teare ID (1973) Rapid determination of free proline for water stress studies. Plant Soil 39:205–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boominathan R, Doran PM (2002) Ni-induced oxidative stress in roots of the Ni hyperaccumulator, Alyssum bertolonii. New Phytol 156:205–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castro R, Pereira S, Lima A, Corticeiro S, Válega M et al (2009) Accumulation, distribution and cellular partitioning of mercury in several halophytes of a contaminated salt marsh. Chemosphere 76:1348–1355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foyer CH, Halliwell B (1976) The presence of glutathione and glutathione reductase in chloroplasts: a proposed role in ascorbic acid metabolism. Planta 133:21–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gill SS, Anjum NA, Ahmad I, Thangavel P, Sridevi G, Pacheco M et al (2012) Metal hyperaccumulation and tolerance in Alyssum, Arabidopsis and Thlaspi: an overview. In: Anjum NA, Ahmad I et al (eds) The Plant Family Brassicaceae. Springer, Netherlands, pp 99–137

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Levine RL, Willians JA, Stadtman ER, Shacter E (1994) Carbonyl assays for determination of oxidatively modified proteins. Method Enzymol 233:346–363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maestri E, Marmiroli M, Visioli G, Marmiroli N (2010) Metal tolerance and hyperaccumulation: costs and trade-offs between traits and environment. Environ Exp Bot 68:1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marques B, Lillebø AI, Pereira E, Duarte AC (2011) Mercury cycling and sequestration in salt marshes sediments: an ecosystem service provided by Juncus maritimus and Scirpus maritimus. Environ Pollut 159:1869–1876

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meagher RB (2000) Phytoremediation of toxic elemental and organic pollutants. Curr Opin Plant Biol 3:153–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano Y, Asada K (1981) Hydrogen peroxide is scavenged by ascorbate-specific peroxidase in spinach chloroplasts. Plant Cell Physiol 22:867–880

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patra M, Sharma A (2000) Mercury toxicity in plants. Bot Rev 66:379–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira ME, Lillebø AI, Pato P, Válega M et al (2009) Mercury pollution in Ria de Aveiro (Portugal): a review of the system assessment. Environ Monit Assess 155:39–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Randall PM, Chattopadhyay S (2013) Mercury contaminated sediment sites— an evaluation of remedial options. Environ Res 125:131–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shulaev V, Oliver DJ (2006) Metabolic and proteomic markers for oxidative stress–new tools for reactive oxygen species research. Plant Physiol 141:367–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sobrino-Plata J, Ortega-Villasante C, Laura Flores-Cáceres M et al (2009) Differential alterations of antioxidant defenses as bioindicators of mercury and cadmium toxicity in alfalfa. Chemosphere 77:946–954

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szabados L, Savoure A (2010) Proline: a multifunctional amino acid. Trend Plant Sci 15:89–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial support received from both FCT (Government of Portugal) through contract (FRH/BPD/64690/2009; SFRH/BPD/84671/2012) and the Aveiro University Research Institute/CESAM is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Naser A. Anjum, Armando C. Duarte, Eduarda Pereira & Iqbal Ahmad

  2. Department of Biology and Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Iqbal Ahmad

Authors
  1. Naser A. Anjum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Armando C. Duarte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eduarda Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Iqbal Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iqbal Ahmad.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Anjum, N.A., Duarte, A.C., Pereira, E. et al. Juncus maritimus root biochemical assessment for its mercury stabilization potential in Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal). Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 2231–2238 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3455-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3455-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation