Etem Osma

Mistletoe (Viscum album) reduces the growth of the Scots pine by accumulating essential nutrient elements in its structure as a trap

Key messageWe found mistletoe accumulates nutrient elements in its structure as a trap and causes a severe drought stress in the Scots pine in dry summer seasons.AbstractThe mistletoe [Viscum album ssp. austriacum (Wiesbaur) Vollm.] is a hemiparasitic plant, and its infestation is known to play an important role on the mortality of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.), but there is little knowledge about its action mechanism. This study, therefore, tried to gain a better understanding of the destructive effect of the mistletoe on the growth and water uptake mechanism of the Scots pine. Identical needles from neighboring plants (healthy and infested) were harvested in the middle of each month (from April to October 2013) and used as research material. Infestation success of the mistletoe was investigated by evaluating the contents of the endogenous nutrient elements such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, boron, nickel, and sodium in both mistletoe leaves and the needles of healthy and infested Scots pine. Its effects were also evaluated by determining the content of water, chlorophyll, and dry matter, and the length of the newly formed needles of the healthy and infested trees. Mistletoe infestation led to a decrease in the availability of water and mineral nutrients, and caused a powerful inhibition on the growth parameters such as chlorophyll, dry matter, and the length of needles by accumulating the essential nutrient minerals in its structure. The findings of this study indicate that the mistletoe accumulates the nutrient elements in its structure as a trap and causes a severe drought stress in the Scots pine in dry summer seasons, thereby playing a potent role in the increasing mortality rate in the Scots pine.

Heavy metal accumulation affects growth of Scots pine by causing oxidative damage

In this study, some physiological and biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress and the concentration of heavy metals were analyzed in leaves of pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) collected from regions suspected of air pollution. Leaves were collected from plants at five different locations near Erzincan, Turkey including the city center and a control area. All leaves were divided into two main parts after a washing procedure. After all pre-procedures in the laboratory, heavy metal analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Data were analyzed statistically, and significant differences were found for plants collected among the different locations. Additionally, electrolyte leakage and physiological parameters such as lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content, chlorophyll content, and activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase were determined as indicators of plant cell stress. Results indicated significant differences between plants at experimental locations vs. the control area in terms of stress parameters; these differences were associated with heavy metal concentrations in plants.

Heavy metals accumulation causes toxicological effects in aquatic Typha domingensis Pers

Typha domingesis is a herbaceous plant growing around the swaps, lakes, and riverbeds. In this study, concentrations of heavy metals and mineral elements in root, stem, leaf, and sediment samples of T. domingensis were analyzed. Samples were collected from four different locations around Karasu River (Uluköy, Beşsaray, Saztepe, Kilimli) as one of the most important tributaries of the River Euphrates. Additionally, chlorophyll and carotenoid levels and lipid peroxidation features of the plant samples were investigated. Variations between the sampling locations and the correlation between the parts of plants were statistically evaluated. As revealed by the data, there were no significant differences between chlorophyll and carotenoid levels or lipid peroxidation in samples collected from different locations. Al showed the highest concentration in sediments, and K was the highest in samples obtained from different parts of the plants that were studied. It was observed that T. domingesis was acceptable as a good biomonitor plant for different metals.

Using Conventional HPLC to Study the Interaction of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPS) with Plants

Conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has a role to play in controlled laboratory studies on the environmental behavior of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). In experimental designs where the test PPCP is the only exogenous material being added to the test system or assay, the need for definitive determination by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is eliminated. However, this approach is limited to those PPCPs that respond with adequate analytical sensitivity, and for samples that produce relatively clean extracts free of co-eluting compounds or interferences at specific UV wavelengths. Treated wastewater that is discharged to surface water may be recycled and used for a variety of purposes, including the irrigation of crops. Studies have shown that treated wastewater contains PPCPs, because wastewater treatment plants were not designed to remove PPCPs. Under such scenarios, PPCPs may be taken up by plants; this trophic transport pathway to higher organisms should be considered in exposure assessments for PPCPs. An initial step in that assessment is the determination of potential adverse impacts of PPCPs on plants and the magnitude of plant uptake of PPCPs under controlled laboratory conditions, experimental work that can be supported by conventional HPLC analyses.

Evaluation of Selected Pharmaceuticals on Plant Stress Markers in Wheat

Herein we report on the interactions between two common pharmaceuticals and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) enter wastewater treatment plants from industrial and household sewers. These chemicals are not completely removed during wastewater processing, and in many countries, are being found in drinking water sources and in surface waters downstream of wastewater treatment plants. If treated wastewater effluent is re-used to irrigate crops, the potential adverse interactions between PPCPs and plants needs to be understood. β-estradiol and gemfibrozil appeared to affect wheat seedlings through oxidative stress, as indicated by increases in lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, carotenoid, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Additionally, plant cell damage in wheat seedlings was indicated by an increase in electrolyte leakage. Although our study was not designed to elucidate possible mechanisms, the changes in activity of plant enzymes in response to some pharmaceuticals is likely the consequence of oxidative stress and the initiation of pathways to protect the plant from further cell damage.

Salix fragilis L. (Gevrek Söğüt)’ in Ağır Metal Kirliliğinde Biomonitor Olarak Kullanılması

Bu calisma ile Karasu Nehri (Tercan, Yedisu, Uzumlu) ve Isikpinar deresi cevresinden olmak uzere dort farkli lokaliteden toplanan gevrek sogut ( Salix fragilis L.) bitkisinden kok, kabuk, yaprak ve yetistikleri toprak orneklerinde (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Co, Cr, Cd) agir metallerin miktari tespit edildi. Bitki ve toprak ornekleri laboratuvarda on islemlerden gecirildikten sonra agir metal konsantrasyonlarinin ICP-MS’de analizleri yapildi. Farkli lokalitelerden toplanan bitki kisimlarinda ve toprakta elde edilen veriler istatistiksel olarak karsilastirilarak, lokaliteler arasindaki farkliliklar belirlendi. Agir metal konsantrasyonunun bitkide daha cok koklerde biriktigi tespit edildi. Ayrica, agir metal miktarinin diger lokalitelere gore Yedisu lokalitesinde daha fazla oldugu belirlendi. Salix fragilis L. agir metal kirliliginin belirlenmesinde biyomonitor olabilecegi sonucuna varildi.

Tıbbi İlaçlar ve Kişisel Bakım Ürünlerinin (PPCPs) Triticum aestivum L. Üzerinde Antioksidan Enzim Aktivitelerine Etkileri

Bu calisma tibbi ilac ve kisisel bakim urunlerinin ekmeklik bugday ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Bezostaja) bitkisi uzerindeki antioksidan enzim aktiviteleri hakkindadir. Arastirmada gunluk hayatta siklikla tuketilen Acetaminophen, Caffein, Gemfibrozil ve β-estradiol olmak uzere dort farkli tibbi ilac etken maddesi kullanilmistir. Ekim yapilacak topraga 15 mg, 50 mg, 200 mg Acetaminophen, Gemfibrozil ve β-estradiol ile bunun yani sira 50 mg, 100 mg, 300 mg seklinde farkli konsantrasyonlarda Caffein karistirilmistir. Daha sonra, hazirlanan 650 g topragin uzerine 7 g bugday tohumu ekilmis, bunun uzeri ise 100 g toprak ile kaplanmistir. Cimlenen bugdaylar, 15 gun sonra hasat edilmistir. Hasat edilen orneklere ekstraksiyon islemi uygulandiktan sonra, orneklerde katalaz (CAT), peroksidaz (POD), superoksit dismutaz (SOD) gibi antioksidan enzim aktiviteleri belirlenmistir. Elde edilen sonuclar incelendiginde bugdayda; CAT degerlerinin 1.525-2.350 EU g¯¹ FW, POD degerlerinin 37.200-59.600EU g¯¹ FW, SOD degerlerinin de 38-52,8 EU g¯¹ FW arasinda oldugu tespit edilmistir. Kontrol ornekleri ile farkli konsantrasyonlarda yetistirilen ornekler arasindaki iliski %95 guven araliginda istatistiksel olarak degerlendirilmis, anlamli farkliliklar belirlenmistir. Calismada, Acetaminophen, Caffein, Gemfibrozil ve β-estradiol uygulanan orneklerde konsantrasyon artisina bagli olarak kontrol grubuna kiyasla antioksidan enzim aktivitelerinde artis oldugu sonucuna ulasilmistir.