Towards a comprehensive understanding of zinc tolerance in Limonium brasiliense as a useful tool for environmental remediation and monitoring

POLLICELLI, MARIA DE LA PAZ; MÁRQUEZ, FEDERICO; IDASZKIN , YANINA LORENA

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Springer

Año: 2024

Heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental problem worldwide, creating thenecessity to find eco-friendly strategies for monitoring and remediating environments.This study aimed to evaluate morphological, physiological, and biochemical responsesas indicative of Zn tolerance in Limonium brasiliense and to determine the ability of thishalophyte to accumulate different concentrations of Zn (0, 100, and 200 μM) inhydroponic conditions. The leaf shape at high Zn concentration showed enlargedpetioles and lanceolate blades, whereas the leaf size was reduced. Water content,chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and pigment content decreased with Zn addition.Of the antioxidant activities, only APx increased 75 % compared to the control by Znstress. Zn concentration was higher in aerial structures than in roots (BAC>1 andTF>1), suggesting that L. brasiliense could function as an accumulator of Zn. Its greatability to resist metal stress and its strong capacity to protect itself against high Znconcentration postulate it as a good phytoremediation of environments enriched withZn. The study emphasizes using leaf morphology as an early biomonitoring tool fordetecting Zn pollution, providing more evidence of their potential use as a biomarkerfor evaluating and assessing ecosystem health in biomonitoring programs.