Comparison of Arsenic Uptake and Oxidative Stress by Christmas Fern and Spider Brake Fern

Authors

Paul lkanich, Cleveland State University
Pratheek Koneru, Cleveland State University
Robert Wei, Cleveland State UniversityFollow

Files

Description

Plants are widely considered the most cost effective and environmentally friendly way to clean soils and waters contaminated with toxic metals, e.g. arsenic and mercury. We have focused our research on the uptake of arsenic and its biochemical effect on two species of fern, Spider brake fern and Christmas fern. Spider brake fern is known to be capable of accumulating significant amounts of arsenic. We wish to determine whether the levels of arsenic uptake in Christmas fern are comparable to Spider Brake fern (>1g kg-1 plant biomass) when both are grown under the same conditions. Another aim of the research was to see whether these plants respond differently to the arsenic stress. For that purpose, we used a technique referred to as one and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In addition, we plan to test whether the stress, if present, is due to the presence of oxidant (oxygen radicals) by measuring the activity of an antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase).

Publication Date

9-5-2013

Disciplines

Life Sciences | Organic Chemistry | Plant Pathology | Plant Sciences

Comments

Student Researchers: Paul Ilkanich; Pratheek Koneru

Faculty Advisor: Robert Wei, Ph.D.

Recommended Citation

lkanich, Paul; Koneru, Pratheek; and Wei, Robert, "Comparison of Arsenic Uptake and Oxidative Stress by Christmas Fern and Spider Brake Fern" (2013). Undergraduate Research Posters 2013. 20.
https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2013/20