Physiological, biochemistry and ultrastructural analysis in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Micro-Tom) mutants exposed to cadmium and aluminum

• Grant number: 11/50982-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Antunes de Azevedo
• Grantee: Georgia Bertoni Pompeu
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/54676-0 - Oxidative stress induced by metals: new approaches, AP.TEM

Abstract

Among the major environmental contaminants are heavy metals, a result of the intense industrialized activity. Cadmium is a nonessential element considered one of the most toxic environmental pollutants on humans, animals and plants. Aluminum is found in soils, particularly acids soils. Whereas 65% of the Brazilian soil is acidic, this metal is one of the main responsible for severe damage found in the roots. The cultivar Micro-Tom is considered an excellent model for biological, biochemical and physiological effects because of its economic importance, the small size, the short life cycle and production of fruit. The characterization of the effects of heavy metals in this cultivar and its mutant allows this information to be extended to other organisms. This work aims at understanding of the mechanisms of tolerance and defense of Micro-Tom and sitiens and epinastic mutants and in relation to exposure to different concentrations of Cd and Al, for certain periods. Will be observed and compared physiological parameters such as variations in size of roots and shoots, biomass and chlorophyll content and carotenoids, such as biochemical quantification of glutathione, ascorbate and phytochelatins and finally the ultrastructural analysis of the various organs and tissues, means of different microscopy techniques. This proposal has relevance to enable the understanding of physiological, biochemical and ultrastructural with regard to damage caused by Cd and Al and correlate this information with other studies such as proteomics and cytogenetics, allowing a better understanding of defense mechanisms and tolerance, and strategies for obtaining tolerant plants, supporting studies related to phytoremediation and bioaccumulation. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GEORGIA BERTONI POMPEU; GUILHERME BOVI AMBROSANO; MILCA BARTZ VILHENA; ROGÉRIO FALLEIROS CARVALHO; PRISCILA LUPINO GRATÃO; FELIPE ANDRINO; SIMONE POSSEDENTE DE LIRA; RICARDO ANTUNES AZEVEDO. Potential of hydrogen (pH) differentially modulates cadmium stress response in abscisic acid-deficient sitiens tomato mutant. Bragantia, v. 78, n. 3, p. 317-327, 2019-08-05. (09/54676-0, 11/50982-9)

POMPEU, GEORGIA B.; VILHENA, MILCA B.; GRATAO, PRISCILA L.; CARVALHO, ROGERIO F.; ROSSI, MONICA L.; MARTINELLI, ADRIANA P.; AZEVEDO, RICARDO A.. Abscisic acid-deficient sit tomato mutant responses to cadmium-induced stress. PROTOPLASMA, v. 254, n. 2, p. 771-783, MAR 2017. (09/54676-0, 11/50982-9)