Uptake of microcystins‐LR and ‐LF (cyanobacterial toxins) in seedlings of several important agricultural plant species and the correlation with cellular damage (lipid peroxidation)

Plants used for agriculture may come into contact with cyanobacterial toxins via spray irrigation when surface water bodies containing cyanobacteria are used as the water source. As many of the bloom forming cyanobacteria are known to produce a variety of toxins, the possibility of uptake of toxins in these plants seems possible. With this study the uptake of two microcystins (MC-LR and MC-LF) as well as MC-LR within a cyanobacterial crude extract in several important agricultural plants is presented. Especially high uptake values in roots of alfalfa and wheat, using an ELISA kit for microcystin detection, is shown. In general, concentrations in the shoot occur at a much lower level than in the root. The amount of toxin is correlated with cellular damage in the seedlings using lipid peroxidation as an indicator. Good correlation was shown between toxin uptake and lipid peroxidation in the seedlings. The exposure of agriculturally important crop plants to cyanobacterial toxins via spray irrigation or watering is a potential concern for human health, as these toxins may accumulate in plant tissues and may therefore be carried through the food chain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 436–442, 2007.