Screening Aquatic Ecosystems for Mutagens with Fern Bioassays

Klekowski, Edward J.

doi:10.2307/3428868

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Chromosomal aberrations have been observed in populations of royal fern (Osmunda regalis) growing beside a river polluted with effluents from paper recycling industries (164,165). The study population was reported to have a higher frequency of aberrations than did control populations.…”

Section: Amentioning

confidence: 88%

Mutagenicity testing in environmental toxicology

Hoffmann¹

1982

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Amentioning

confidence: 88%

Mutagenicity testing in environmental toxicology

Hoffmann¹

1982

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Three papers in this workshop have dealt with such assays. Van't Hof and Schairer (11) have discussed the Tradescantia system (in this case a very sensitive mutagen assay organism is exposed to a component of the environment for a period of time) and Klekowski has described an assay based upon the detection of post-zygotic mutational damage in indigenous fern populations (12). For the advantages and disadvantages of these assay protocols, the reader is referred to these papers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the environment for dispersed mutagens: use of plant bioconcentrators coupled with microbial mutagen assays.

Barnes¹,

Klekowski²

1978

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mutagens dispersed in ecosystems are usually in low concentration and episodic in occurrence. The possibility of detecting such dispersed mutagens by utilizing indigenous bioconcentrator organisms coupled with a microbial mutagen assay offer a useful screening protocol. There are numerous examples of plant and animal species which concentrate toxic substances from the environment. Body extracts of these bioconcentrators can be suitably fractioned and tested for mutagens with various microbial mutagen assays. The fractions may be tested with a broad range of microbial assays covering numerous genetic end points as well as both with and without mammalian microsomal activation. This kind of environmental screening has an advantage over physicochemical techniques, in that sampling techniques are simpler and a wider chemical spectrum can be screened. There are problems inherent with testing a complex biological extract, however. If a reversion assay is used, the metabolite necessary for growth may be present. Toxins may be introduced, either concentrated from the environment in the same way as the mutagen, or produced by the concentrator itself. Finally, the concentrator may also produce an endogenous mutagen which will give spuriously active extracts. Methods for minimizing some of these difficulties are discussed.

show abstract

“…Here a mobile laboratory is utilized through which ambient air is passed over Tradescantia cuttings and mutations are measured in a few days. Mutation and chromosome aberrations in an aquatic fern are indicating the degree of mutagenic pollution in Eastern rivers (5)(6)(7)(8). Presently, no animal or other test systems are being utilized in the "real world" of mutagen monitoring.…”

Section: Mutagen Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These systems have played initial roles in detecting new mutagens, advancing the knowledge of mechanisms of action of certain mutagens, and developing techniques that * Program in Genetics and Department of Agronomy and Soils, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164. were later used in other systems for advancing mutagenesis knowledge. In the area of mutagen monitoring there are no other eukaryotic or prokaryotic systems as useful at the present time as Tradescantia stamen-hairs for air pollution (3,4) and the fern for water pollution (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of Plant Genetic Systems for Monitoring and Screening Mutagens

Nilan¹

1978

Environmental Health Perspectives

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plants have too long been ignored as useful screening and monitoring systems of environmental mutagens. However, there are about a dozen reliable, some even unique, plant genetic systems that can increase the scope and effectiveness of chemical and physical mutagen screening and monitoring procedures. Some of these should be included in the Tier II tests. Moreover, plants are the only systems now in use as monitors of genetic effects caused by polluted atmosphere and water and by pesticides.There are several major advantages of the plant test systems which relate to their reproductive nature, easy culture and growth habits that should be considered in mutagen screening and monitoring. In addition to these advantages, the major plant test systems exhibit numerous genetic and chromosome changes for determining the effects of mutagens. Some of these have not yet been detected in other nonmammalian and mammalian test systems, but probably occur in the human organism.Plants have played major roles in various aspects of mutagenesis research, primarily in mutagen screening (detection and verification of mutagenic activity), mutagen monitoring, and determining mutagen effects and mechanisms of mutagen action. They have played lesser roles in quantification of mutagenic activity and understanding the nature of induced mutations.Mutagen monitoring with plants, especially in situ on land or in water, will help determine potential genetic hazards ofair and water pollutants and protect the genetic purity ofcrop plants and the purity ofthe food supply. The Tradescantia stamen-hair system is used in a mobile laboratory for determining the genetic effects of industrial and automobile pollution in a number ofsites in the U.S.A. The fern is employed for monitoring genetic effects of water pollution in the Eastern states. The maize pollen system and certain weeds have monitored genetic effects of pesticides. Several other systems that have considerable value and should be developed and more widely used in mutagen monitoring and screening, especially for in situ monitoring, are discussed. Emphasis is placed on pollen systems in which changes in pollen structure, chemistry, and chromosomes can be scored for monitoring; and screening systems which can record low levels of genetic effects as well as provide information on the nature of induced mutations. The value of plant systems for monitoring and screening mutagens can be improved by: greater knowledge of plant cell processes at the molecular and ultrastructural levels; relating these processes to mutagen effects and plant cell responses; improving current systems for increased sensitivity, ease of detecting genetic and chromosome changes, recording ofdata (including automation), and for extending the range of genetic and chromosome end points; and designing and developing new systems with the aid of previous and current botanical and genetic knowledge.

show abstract

Screening Aquatic Ecosystems for Mutagens with Fern Bioassays

Cited by 4 publications

References 5 publications

Mutagenicity testing in environmental toxicology

Mutagenicity testing in environmental toxicology

Testing the environment for dispersed mutagens: use of plant bioconcentrators coupled with microbial mutagen assays.

Potential of Plant Genetic Systems for Monitoring and Screening Mutagens

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About