Interference of tributyltin(IV)chloride on the vascular plant cells

In the recent past years, interest in the environmental impact of organotin(IV) compounds has risen markedly. Considering that most data in the scientific literature refers to the animal kingdom and not to higher plants cells, we tested the effects of organotin compounds on vascular plant cells, by studying the interaction of tributyltin chloride (TBTCl) with Allium cepa, Solanun tuberosum and Solanum melongena, vascular plants that are directly involved in the human food chain. The TBTCl effects on mitotic metaphase plates, on pollen grains and on both microtubers and adult tuber parenchymatic cells were investigated and the concentrations of TBTCl inside the treated parenchymatic cells were determined through ICP‐mass spectrometry. Oxygen and chlorophyll productions were also determined. The obtained results showed that TBTCl influenced not only morphology, but also the physiology of the vegetable cells since, despite the low concentrations used, the stress the cells were submitted to was experimentally confirmed. Moreover, the increase in the tin concentration in the cells, with increasing incubation time, showed that TBTCl possesses a very high capacity to be bioaccumulated and, as a consequence, it is able to enter the food chain. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.