Toxic Effect of Sodium Nitrate on Germinating Seeds of Vigna radiata

Authors: Nilima D. Gajbhiye

Abstract:

Sodium nitrate has been used industrially in a number of work fields ranging from agriculture to food industry. Sodium nitrate and nitrite are associated with a higher risk of cancer in human beings. In present study, the effect of sodium nitrate on germinating seeds was studied. Two different sets of ungerminated Vigna radiata seeds were taken. In one set Vigna radiata seeds were soaked in distilled water for 4 hours and they were allowed to germinate in distilled water (Control) and 0.1 to 1% and 10% concentrations of sodium nitrate (NaNo₃). In soaked seed set, on 2^nd day radical developed in control and 0.1 to 1% concentrations of sodium nitrate. Seeds size was enlarged in 1% and 10% concentrations of sodium nitrate. On 3^rd day in 0.1% sodium nitrate length of the radicle was 7.5cm with one leaf let and control sample showed 9cm with one leaflet. On 5^th day in 0.1% sodium nitrate length of the radicle was 10 cm with one leaf let and control sample showed 11.5cm with one leaflet. No radicle developed in 1 and 10% NaNo₃ concentrations. On 10^th day all plants including control were dead. More number of mitotic cells was observed in apical root meristems of control germinating seeds and less mitotic cells were observed in 0.1% NaNo₃ germinating seeds. But cells were elongated in 0.9%NaNo₃ concentration and particles are deposited in the cells and no mitotic cells were observed. In other sets, dry seeds were allowed to germinate in Distilled water (control) and in 0.1 to 1% and 10% concentrations of sodium nitrate. In dry seed set, on 2^nd day radicle developed from control set. In 0.1 to 1% concentrations of sodium nitration seed enlarged in size but but not allowed germination. But in 10% NaNo₃ seeds coat colour was changed from dark green to brown. On 3^rd day the radicle was developed in 0.1% concentration of NaNo₃. No growth of radicle was observed in 0.3 to 10% concentrations of NaNo₃ but plumule was observed in control plant. Seed coat color was changed from dark green to brown in color in 1% and 10% NaNo₃. On 5^th day in control seeds the radicle growth was 11cm and 0.1% NaNo₃ concentration was 1.3 cm. On 10^th day all plants including control were dead. More number of mitotic cells was observed in apical root meristems of control germinating seeds and less mitotic cells were observed in 0.1% NaNo3 germinating seeds. At higher concentrations of NaNo₃ allowed seed germination in soaked seeds but produced radicle decay. In comparison to it, in dry seed set, germination of seeds observed only in 0.1% NaNo₃ concentration. The inhibitory effect of NaNo₃ on seed germination is due to reduction of water imbibition and mitotic activity.

Keywords: Germinating seeds, NaNo3, Vigna radiate, mitotic activity.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1089206

References:

[1] A Amathussalam, M.N. Abusbacker and N.J. Jayabal, Ind. Poll. Con., pp: 118-119. 2002.
[2] FA Badria, WE Houssein, MG Zaghloul, AF Halim, Antimitotic activity of gossypol and gossypolone. Pharmaceutical Biology 39: 120-126, 2001.
[3] J.A. Casanovaet al. "Use of Griess reagent containing vanadium (III) for post-column derivatization and simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in baby food." J AOAC Int 89(2):447-451. 2006.
[4] RD de Castro, AM Lammeren, SPC Groot, RJ Bino, WM Hilhorst, Cell division and subsequent radicle protrusion in tomato seeds are inhibited by osmotic stress but DNA synthesis and formation of microtubular cytoskeleton are not. Plant Physiology 122: 327-336, 2000.
[5] L.B Dusdieker. "Nitrate in baby foods. Adding to the nitrate mosaic." Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 148(5):490-494, 1994.
[6] H, Gali-Muhtasib and N. Bakkar, Modulating cell cycle: current applications and prospects for future drug development. Current Cancer Drug Targets 2: 309-336. 2002
[7] V. L. Kumar and Abhishek Singhal, "Germinating seeds of the mung bean, Vigna radiata (Fabaceae), as a model for the preliminary evaluation of cytotoxic effects of drugs”Biocell,33(1):19-24,2009.
[8] S., Laitinen. "Calculated dietary intakes of nitrate and nitrite by young Finns." Food Addit.Contam 10(4):469-477, 1993.
[9] Elke Lorensen, R. Prevosto and K. A. Willson, "The Appearance of New Active Forms of Trypsin Inhibitor in Germinating Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) Seeds” plant physiology, 68,88-92,1981
[10] S.E., McMullen. "Ion chromatographic determination of nitrate and nitrite in vegetable and fruit baby foods." J AOAC Int 88(6):1793-1796, 2005.
[11] H. Moller, "Work in agriculture, childhood residence, nitrate exposure, and testicular cancer risk: a case-control study in Denmark." Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 6(2):141-144, 1997.
[12] K. Promila and S. Kumar, "Vigna radiate seed germination under salinity” Biologia planetarium 43(3):423-426,2000.
[13] M. Reinik, "Nitrites, nitrates and N-nitrosoamines in Estonian cured meat products: intake by Estonian children and adolescents." Food Addit. Contam 22(11):1098-1105, 2005.
[14] M. Reinik et al. "Nitrites, nitrates and N-nitrosoamines in Estonian cured meat products: intake by Estonian children and adolescents." Food Addit. Contam 22(11):1098-1105, 2005.
[15] J. Sanchez-Echaniz et al., "Methemoglobinemia and consumption of vegetables in infants." Pediatrics 107(5):1024-1028, 2001.
[16] Sehgal R, S. Roy and VL Kumar, Evaluation of cytotoxic potential of latex of Calotropis procera and podophyllotoxin in Allium cepa root model. Biocell 30: 9-13. 2006.
[17] S. P. Sing, M. K. Bhathagar and P.A. Singh, J.Indu. Poll. Cont., pp: 21-163. 2005.
[18] T. Tamme et al., "Nitrates and nitrites in vegetables and vegetable-based products and their intakes by the Estonian population." Food Addit. Contam 23(4):355-361, 2006.
[19] N. Thorpe and A. Shirmohammadi, "Herbicides and nitrates in groundwater of Maryland and childhood cancers: a geographic information systems approach." J Environ Sci Health C.Environ Carcinog. Ecotoxicol. Rev. 23(2):261-278. 2005.
[20] P. Tiwari, Elecy and C.B. Indu Bhahia, Geobios, pp: 20-27. 1993
[21] I., Tosun and N.S. Ustun, "Nitrate content of lettuce grown in the greenhouse." Bull. Environ.Contam Toxicol. 72(1):109-113,2004.
[22] U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry. "Case Studies in Environmental Medicine: Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity." 2001
[23] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Reregistration Eligibility Decision: Inorganic Nitrate/Nitrite (Sodium and Potassium Nitrates)." 1991.
[24] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "R.E.D. Facts: Inorganic Nitrates/Nitrite (Sodium and Potassium Nitrates)." 1991.
[25] World Health Organization. "International Program on Chemical Safety, Environmental Health Criteria 5: Nitrates, Nitrites, and N-Nitroso Compounds." 2006.
[26] C.L. Zeman et al., "Exposure methodology and findings for dietary nitrate exposures in children of Transylvania, Romania." J. Expo. Anal. Environ. Epidemiol. 12(1):54-63, 2002.
[27] A, Maia and L. Rainer ,Changes in water relations, solute leakage and growth characters during seed germination and seedling development in Trigonella coerulea (Fabaceae). Jounalof Applied Botany 75: 144-151, 2001.