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Plant function and evolutionary biology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Halophyte anti-oxidant feedback seasonality in two salt marshes with different degrees of metal contamination: search for an efficient biomarker

Bernardo Duarte A B , Dinis Santos A and Isabel Caçador A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre of Oceanography of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (CO), Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal.

B Corresponding author. Email: baduarte@fc.ul.pt

This paper originates from a presentation at the COST WG2 MeetingPutting halophytes to workgenetics, biochemistry and physiologyHannover, Germany, 2831 August 2012.

Functional Plant Biology 40(9) 922-930 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP12315
Submitted: 20 October 2012  Accepted: 21 March 2013   Published: 22 April 2013

Abstract

Salt marshes can be affected by metal contamination when near a polluted area, and this excessive concentration of metals is a source of stress in plants. Production of proteins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and anti-oxidant feedback can be used as biomarkers, as well to assess the suitability of halophytes to function as a biomonitors. Through monitoring the anti-oxidative feedback in Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen, Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J.Scott and Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald in a contaminated and non-contaminated marsh, S. maritima seems to have potential as a bioindicator species, showing different biochemical characteristics according to the degree of contamination to which it is exposed. The evident biochemical separation between individuals from contaminated and non-contaminated salt marshes is mostly due to differences in the activity of SOD as well APx and GPx. Without neglecting the need for further works, the present study suggests that S. maritima enzymatic defences as good candidates for efficient biomarkers for estuarine sediment quality assessment studies.

Additional keywords: biomarkers, halophytes, heavy metals, oxidative stress.


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