Physiological responses of Salvinia natans L. to aluminium stress and its interaction with putrescine

Salvinia natans L. a water fern is displayed with some of its physiological attributes in response to aluminium (Al) stress in aqua culture as well as its interaction with externally applied putrescine (put). At the tissue level the Al deposition is prominent and mostly distributed in the intracellular spaces as well as cellular interfaces. The accumulation of Al and its induced oxidative damages are also revealed through Evan’s blue staining. In both the cases dose dependent responses of Al induced oxidative damages and its mitigation with Put was the resultant. Under non enzymatic antioxidation pathways, anthocyanin and flavonoids were the two phenolics over expressed as a function of Al and ameliorated with Put application. The property of root membranes was changed with an up regulation of H +/ATPase activity which was moderated by Put.The peroxidase activity particularly those were restricted to the wall bound also showed variability according to Al doses as revealed through in gel staining. From these studies of Al accumulation and its concomitant changes in physiological attributes in Salvinia plants, the species could be selected as a potential hyper accumulator of Al. The role of Put in Al accumulation as well as its moderation has been discussed with reference to physiological activities.