Biotesting of a freshwater (river) ecosystem water quality by genetic markers of Tradescantia model test system

Abstract

In the field of assessing the quality of the aquatic environment, the use of biotesting methods is a mandatory element of environmental monitoring. Plant model test systems, such as Tradescantia clones, are used for biotesting of water quality in freshwater river ecosystems. To study the level of clastogenicity of the water samples of the Akhuryan River (Armenia), collected at five sampling points along the river in the summer, a test for micronuclei in the pollen mother cells of Tradescantia clone 02 (micronucleus assay – Trad-MCN) is used. The following two marker test-criteria were taken into account: the frequency of tetrads with micronuclei (Tetr/MCN) and the frequency of micronuclei in tetrads (MCN/tetr). The study of clastogenic effects in the sporogenic cells of Tradescantia showed increase in the frequency of occurrence of both test criteria in all studied water samples compared to the background with maximum manifestation in the Akhurik sample (p < 0,01). A reliable positive correlation was shown between the marker criteria of the micronucleus assay and the chemical elements: HCO₃, CO₃, B, Mg, Ca, As, Se (p < 0.01).