Bioindicator potential of Cedrela fissilis seedlings in copper-contaminated areas /Potencial bioindicador de mudas de Cedrela fissilis em areas contaminadas por cobre

• Published in: Revista brasileira de engenharia agrícola e ambiental 2024-11, Vol.28 (11), p.1
• Main Authors: Kuinchtner, Caroline C, Aguilar, Marcos V.M, Senhor, Daiane F, de Oliveira, Gerane S.W, da Lovato, Luana R, da Rosa, Flaiane C.R, Tabaldi, Luciane A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1415-4366
• DOI: 10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v28n11e277661

Soil contamination with toxic metals brings along severe environmental issues. Among these metals, copper (Cu) is harmful to plant development when it reaches high contamination levels in the soil. Thus, identifying species capable of resisting this contamination type helps these sites' revegetation and decontamination processes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the tolerance of Cedrela fissilis plants to excess Cu through morphophysiological and biochemical variables. C. fissilis seedlings were subjected to five concentrations of Cu (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg [L.sup.-1]). The experimental design was completely randomized, with five treatments and four repetitions. Morphophysiological (number of leaves, shoot height, root length, dry weight, morphological variables of the root system, and leaf area) and biochemical (antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and photosynthetic pigments) traits and Cu accumulated in roots and shoot were evaluated. High concentrations of Cu had a negative effect on the shoot and root dry weight, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. Overall, Cu increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation. Therefore, Cu incidence in the nutrient solution has negatively influenced the biochemical and physiological traits of C. fissilis seedlings to the detriment of their growth. Thus, it was possible to identify sensitive behavior by the investigated species. Because of these features, C. fissilis seedlings can be used as markers for copper-contaminated areas. Key words: antioxidant enzymes, copper toxicity, gas exchange, heavy metals, metal toxicity A contaminacao do solo com metais toxicos traz consigo graves problemas ambientais. Dentre esses metais, o cobre (Cu) e prejudicial ao desenvolvimento das plantas quando atinge elevados niveis de contaminacao no solo. Assim, identificar especies capazes de resistir a esse tipo de contaminacao auxilia nos processos de revegetacao e descontaminacao desses locais. Portanto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a tolerancia de plantas de Cedrela fissilis ao excesso de Cu atraves de variaveis morfofisiologicas e bioquimicas. Mudas de C. fissilis foram submetidas a cinco concentracoes de Cu (0, 2, 4, 6 e 8 mg [L.sup.-1]). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repeticoes. Caracteristicas morfofisiologicas (numero de folhas, altura da parte aere