Investigating the anatomy of the halophyte Salsola crassa and the impact of industrial wastewater on its vegetative and generative structures

Authors: NARJES SADAT MOHAMMADI JAHROMI, PARISSA JONOUBI, AHMAD MAJD, MANSOOREH DEHGHANI

Abstract: Salsola crassa M.B. is one of the most successful plants used against industrial pollutants. In this study, we selected young Salsola crassa M.B. plants from their natural habitats. Some plants were irrigated with industrial wastewater containing Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn, and others were irrigated with tap water for 3-4 months. Afterwards, the shoots and roots were randomly cut, separated, fixed, dyed, and observed using light microscopy. Structural changes were analyzed by stereology. There were some differences in appearance and structure between the treated and control samples. For example, the number of leaves and flowers and the size of seeds and flowers in the treated plants were reduced. The diameter of the cortical parenchyma, the total area of each vascular bundle, surface area of the pith cells in the stem, leaf cuticle thickness, mechanical layer thickness of the anther, and diameter of pollen grains were reduced. A peculiar palisade chlorenchyma beneath the epidermis and unexpected small vascular bundles on the upper part of the cortex were features of both groups. Finally, we concluded that industrial waste water pollutants affected various aspects of plant development.

Keywords: Salsola crassa, resistant halophyte, anatomy, stereology, wastewater treatment

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