Ecotoxicological effects of tungsten on celery ( Apium graveolens L ) and pepper ( Capsicum spp. )

• Published in: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA) Vol. 12; p. e17601
• Main Authors: Li, Qi, Zheng, Xiaojun, Chen, Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PeerJ. Ltd 24.06.2024; PeerJ Inc
• Subjects: Agricultural Science; Analysis; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Apium - drug effects; Biomarker; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomonitor; Capsicum - drug effects; Capsicum - growth & development; Capsicum - metabolism; Catalase - metabolism; Contamination; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology - methods; Environmental Contamination and Remediation; Environmental Impacts; Lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Physiological aspects; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Roots - drug effects; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plant Science; Superoxide; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Toxicity; Tungsten; Tungsten - toxicity; China; Biomonitor; Oxidative stress; Biomarker; Toxicity; Tungsten
• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17601
• ISSN: 2167-8359

Tungsten (W) is an emerging heavy metal pollutant, yet research remains scarce on the biomonitor and sensitive biomarkers for W contamination. In this study, celery and pepper were chosen as study subjects and subjected to exposure cultivation in solutions with five different levels of W. The physiological and biochemical toxicities of W on these two plants were systematically analyzed. The feasibility of utilizing celery and pepper as biomonitor organisms for W contamination was explored and indicative biomarkers were screened. The results indicated that W could inhibit plants' root length, shoot height, and fresh weight while concurrently promoting membrane lipid peroxidation. Additionally, W enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) to counteract oxidative damage. From a physiological perspective, pepper exhibited potential as a biomonitor for W contamination. Biochemical indicators suggested that SOD could serve as a sensitive biomarker for W in celery, while TAOC and POD were more suitable for the roots and leaves of pepper. In conclusion, our study investigated the toxic effects of W on celery and pepper, contributing to the understanding of W's environmental toxicity. Furthermore, it provided insights for selecting biomonitor organisms and sensitive biomarkers for W contamination.