Changes in Fatty Acid Composition and Content of Two Plants (Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens) Grown During 6 and 18Months in a Metal (Pb, Cd, Zn) Contaminated Field

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 192; no. 1-4; pp. 281 - 291
• Main Authors: Bidar, G, Verdin, A, Garcon, G, Pruvot, C, Laruelle, F, Grandmougin-Ferjani, A, Douay, F, Shirali, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2008
• Subjects: Lolium perenne; Trifolium repens
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-008-9655-6

The aim of this in situ study was to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition and content in roots and shoots of Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens, grown under heavy metal stress (Cd, Pb, Zn). The composition of FA was quite similar for the two plants and the two organs; main FA were palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3). For both plants, the major FA that characterized the roots was C18:2 whereas C18:3 was the prominent FA in shoots. For the first sampling (S1), in the roots of L. perenne and T. repens, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were affected by metal contamination while, in the second sampling (S2), PUFA were affected in the shoots of the two plants. This alteration of PUFA was well correlated with the bioaccumulation factor of metals which decreased in roots and increased in shoots with the time. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the PUFA decrease and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, indicating the occurrence of a lipid peroxidation induced by the metal stress.