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Laboratory assessment of uptake and toxicity of lanthanum (La) in the leaves of Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) Backer

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Abstract

Increasing amounts of lanthanum (La) is released into aquatic environments. However, little information is available on the influence of La on aquatic plants. In this study, physiological and ultrastructural responses of Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) Backer leaves to elevated concentrations of La (up to 160 μM) were investigated. The accumulation of La was found to be increased in a concentration-dependent manner. La disturbed the intrinsic balance of nutrient elements (P, Mg, Ca, Fe, K, and Zn). Pigment content decreased with the rise of the La concentrations and the EC50 value for chlorophyll was 20 μM on day 7. The antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, reduced ascorbate, and reduced glutathione) exhibited varied response to the La treatments. Malondialdehyde content enhanced gradually at all La concentrations. The enhancement in proline content was found in a concentration-dependent manner. The amounts of three polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 61.9, 51.5, and 16.7 kDa, respectively, were gradually diminished, as well as one existing polypeptides with apparent molecular weight of 22.3 kDa, elevating in response to increasing La concentrations. Significant damage to the chloroplast, mitochondrion, and nucleus was imposed by La indicated a general disarray in the cellular functions. The negative effects of La on H. dubia unequivocally indicate that La could exert an adverse influence on aquatic ecosystem and should lead to a more careful discharge of such elements into water environment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 31170162) and A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The authors wish to thank Kaihe Du for his technical assistance in the TEM. La samples were analyzed by Nanjing Normal University Center for Analysis and Testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, People’s Republic of China

    Qinsong Xu, Yongyang Fu, Haili Min, Sanjuan Cai, Sha Sha & Guangyu Cheng

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  1. Qinsong Xu
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  2. Yongyang Fu
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  3. Haili Min
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  4. Sanjuan Cai
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  5. Sha Sha
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Correspondence to Qinsong Xu.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Xu, Q., Fu, Y., Min, H. et al. Laboratory assessment of uptake and toxicity of lanthanum (La) in the leaves of Hydrocharis dubia (Bl.) Backer. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 3950–3958 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0982-1

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