Antioxidative system and oxidative stress markers in wild populations of Erica australis L. differentially exposed to pyrite mining activities

Erica australis L. is a widely distributed shrub able to grow in a variety of environments. In the Iberian Pyritic Belt (SW Spain and Portugal), E. australis can be observed growing successfully in very acidic and highly metal-enriched soils. However, no data about the metal tolerance of this plant in wild populations have been reported so far. In this study, we have analysed metal contents in the leaves of E. australis from three wild populations growing in soils affected by metals in different ways (mine wastes, the terrace of a river affected by acid mine drainage and soils not affected by mining activities but enriched in metals due the geology of the area) and, taking into account that metals may generate reactive oxygen species, we also assayed the oxidative damages and the antioxidative defences. All plants contained high levels of Fe and Mn in the leaves, but plants exposed to mining activities also accumulate different levels of As, Ni, Mo, Pb, and Zn depending on the population considered. Our data show that E. australis responds to metal-catalysed production of reactive radicals by oxidising ascorbic acid, which is present at concentrations much higher than described in other plant species, but it is highly oxidised, close to 40%. Ascorbic acid may counteract reactive oxygen species, and no cell damage was produced, as shown by the low levels of H2O2 and lipid peroxidation found compared with other plant species and no damage reflected in pigment levels.