Phytotoxicity of mercury in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)
Abstract
This study investigated the phytotoxicity of mercury to Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Two common cultivars (Florida Broad Leaf and Long-standing) were grown hydroponically in a mercury-spiked solution. Mercury exhibited a significant phytotoxicity in these two cultivars of Indian mustard at elevated concentrations (>or=2 mg L(-1)). Mercury uptake induced a significant reduction in both biomass and leaf relative water content. Microscopy studies indicated that elevated mercury concentrations in plants significantly changed leaf cellular structure: thickly stained areas surrounding the vascular bundles; decreases in the number of palisade and spongy parenchyma cells; and reduced cell size and clotted depositions. The palisade chloroplasts exhibited decreases in their amounts and starch grains as well as a loss of spindle shape. However, due to high accumulation of mercury in plants, especially in the roots, Indian mustard might be a potential candidate plant for phytofiltration of contaminated water and phytostabilization of mercury-contaminated soils.
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The permeability of cell membranes and the number of palisades may be reduced in the presence of mercury, resulting in the buildup of Fe and the loss of essential elements like Mg and K.
“The permeability of cell membranes and the number of palisades may be reduced in the presence of Hg, resulting in the buildup of Fe and the loss of essential elements like Mgand K (Shiyab et al., 2009; Tangahu et al., 2011; Azevedo and Rodriguez, 2012).”
From Plant hyperaccumulators: a state-of-the-art review on mechanism of heavy metal transport and sequestration (2025) · cites this paper as Shiyab et al., 2009
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“The permeability of cell membranes and the number of palisades may be reduced in the presence of Hg, resulting in the buildup of Fe and the loss of essential elements like Mgand K (Shiyab et al., 2009; Tangahu et al., 2011; Azevedo and Rodriguez, 2012).”
- Authors
- Shiyab, S., Chen, J., Han, F. X., Monts, D. L., Matta, F. B., Gu, M., & Su, Y.
- Affiliations
- Mississippi State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Han, Fengxiang X.
- Venue
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-02
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 619-625
- ISSN
- 0147-6513 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1964386164
- Cited by
- 99
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 1.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Office of Science
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- mercury, phytotoxicity, Brassica juncea, mercury uptake, leaf relative water content, leaf cell structure, chloroplast morphology, starch granules, cultivar differences, phytofiltration, phytostabilization, mercury-contaminated soil, hydroponics
- MeSH terms
- Brassica, Chloroplasts, Mercury, Microscopy, Mustard Plant, Soil Pollutants, Plant Roots
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