Industrial pollutants induce the production of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as O₂^.-, H₂O₂, and ^·OH in plants, but they have not been well quantified or localized in tissues and cells. This study evaluated the pollutant- (HSO₃^-, NH₄NO₃, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, and Fe²⁺) induced toxic effects of ROS on the aerial roots of Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa). Root cell viability was greatly reduced by treatment with 20 mM NaHSO₃, 20 mM NH₄NO₃, 0.2 mM AlCl₃, 0.2 mM ZnSO₄, or 0.2 mM FeSO₄. Biochemical assay and histochemical localization showed that O₂^.- accumulated in roots in response to pollutants, except that the staining of O₂^.- under NaHSO₃ treatment was not detective. Cytochemical localization further indicated that the generated O₂^.- was present mainly in the root cortex, and pith cells, especially in NH₄NO₃- and FeSO₄-treated roots. The pollutants also caused greatly accumulated H₂O₂ and ^·OH in aerial roots, which finally resulted in lipid peroxidation as indicated by increased malondialdehyde contents. We conclude that the F. microcarpa aerial roots are sensitive to pollutant-induced ROS and that the histochemical localization of O₂^.- via nitrotetrazolium blue chloride staining is not effective for detecting the effects of HSO₃^- treatment because of the treatment's bleaching effect.

#	Concept	H-Index	Publications	Citations
1	Engineering	1	1	53
2	Biogeochemistry	1	1	53
3	Botany	1	1	53
4	Forestry	1	1	53
5	Plant Physiology	1	1	53

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