Journal article

Publication year: 1990

Pages: 311-314

Journal: Botanica acta

Volume number: 103

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0932-8629

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.1990.tb00166.x

Publisher: Thieme

Abstract: 
In an attempt to ascertain whether the lichen Ramalina duriaei could be employed to biomonitor atmospheric lead pollution, specimens of this lichen were exposed to Pb (NO3)2 solutions and a buffered solution (tartaric acid/sodium bitartrate, pH 2.8) of sodium rhodizonate (C6O6Na2) was used to locate lead in their thalli. The procedure entailed exposure of the lichen to 0, 5, 50 and 100 ppm Pb for 5 min and 1 h and the subsequent determination of the led contents from photographs of the thalli. Distribution of lead in different parts of the thallus was assessed after exposure of the lichens to 2 ppm Pb (9 h or three d), 50 ppm (45 min) or 200 ppm (4 d). Cross sections of vegetative parts of the thallus and of the apothecia revealed that lead penetrated into the cortical cells of the thallus but not into the algal cells of the phycobiont nor the ascospores or medullary cells. The observed massive penetration of lead into cortical cells supports the notion that Ramalina duriaei is sensitive to atmospheric lead pollution.

Harvard Citation style: GARTY, J. and THEISS, H. (1990) THE LOCALIZATION OF LEAD IN THE LICHEN RAMALINA-DURIAEI (DENOT) BAGL, Botanica acta, 103(3), pp. 311-314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.1990.tb00166.x

APA Citation style: GARTY, J., & THEISS, H. (1990). THE LOCALIZATION OF LEAD IN THE LICHEN RAMALINA-DURIAEI (DENOT) BAGL. Botanica acta. 103(3), 311-314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.1990.tb00166.x