Accumulation and acute toxicity of silver in Potamogeton crispus L.

In the present study, Potamogeton crispus L. plants exposed to various concentrations of silver (Ag) (5, 10, 15, and 20 μM) for 5 d were investigated to determine the accumulating potential of Ag and its influence on nutrient elements, chlorophyll pigments and fluorescence, various antioxidant enzymes and compounds, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), protein content and ultrastructure. The accumulation of Ag was found to increase in a concentration dependent manner with a maximum of 29.3 μg g−1 at 20 μM. The nutrient elements (except Ca), photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters (Fo, Fv, Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo), malondialdehyde (MDA), ATP, peroxidase (POD) activity, ascorbate (AsA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and protein contents decreased significantly as concentration of Ag augmented. In contrast, an induction in SOD activity was recorded, while an initial rise in Ca content and CAT activity was followed by subsequent decline. Morphological symptoms of senescence phenomena such as chlorosis and damage of chloroplasts and mitochondria were observed even at the lowest concentration of Ag, which suggested that Ag hastened the senescence of the tested plants. The loss of nutrients and chlorophyll content and damage of chloroplasts were associated with disturbances in photosynthetic capacity as indicated by the quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence. Decreased chlorophyll and protein contents suggest oxidative stress induced by Ag. In addition, both the reduction of ATP and the damage to the ultrastructure of organelles were indicative of general disarray in the cellular functions exerted by Ag.