Phytotoxic effect of imidazolium ionic liquid [C4MIM][BF4] on the germination and growth of barley

Ionske tekućine se definiraju kao organske soli koje su pri sobnoj temperaturi u tekućem stanju i tale se pri temperaturi nižoj od 100°C. Zbog jedinstvenih svojstava poput neznatne hlapljivosti, nezapaljivosti i dobre stabilnosti te posebice mogućnosti reciklacije, ionske tekućine se koriste kao zamjena za tradicionalna organska otapala. Da bi se mogle koristiti u industrijskim omjerima, potrebno je istražiti njihovu toksičnost i mogući utjecaj na zdravlje ljudi i okoliš. U ovom radu ispitan je utjecaj 1-butil-3-metilimidazolijevog tetrafluoroborata na rast i klijanje ječma (Hordeum vulgare). Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da je nakon 7-dnevnog uzgoja ječma pri različitim masenim koncentracijama ionske tekućine dokazana toksičnost na rani razvoj i rast klijanaca ječma, pri čemu toksičnost raste s povećanjem koncentracije ionske tekućine. Uočena je povećana aktivnost antioksidativnih enzima superoksid-dismutaze (SOD), nespecifičnih peroksidaza (POD), katalaze (CAT) i askorbat-peroksidaze (APOX) te povećani sadržaj neproteinskih tiola što ukazuje na sudjelovanje u obrani od oksidativnog stresa uzrokovanog ionskim tekućinama, dok antioksidativni sustav klijanaca nakon izlaganja većim masenim koncentracijama ionskih tekućina ne može učinkovito ukloniti kisikove reaktivne čestice koji uzrokuje lipidnu peroksidaciju i oštećenja fotosintetskog sustava.Ionic liquids are defined as organic salts that are in a liquid state at room temperature and with melting points below 100°C. Due to their features such as very low vapour pressure, non-flammability, great stability, and especially their recycle potential, ionic liquids are extensively studied as a substitute for traditional organic solvents. To use ionic liquids on the industrial scales, it is necessary to investigate their toxicity and their potential effect on human health and the environment. Therefore, in this study the impact of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate on the germination and growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare) is investigated. The results showed that after a 7-day cultivation of barley at different concentrations of ionic liquid, toxic effect on the early growth and development of barley is proven, while the toxic effect grows by increasing the concentration of ionic liquid. Increased activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), nonspecific peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) and increased content of non-protein thiols was observed, which indicates their participation in the plant defence mechanism against oxidative stress caused by ionic liquids. However, when seedlings were exposed to higher concentrations of ionic liquid, antioxidant system couldn’t effectively remove reactive oxidative particles, leading to lipid peroxidation and damage to the photosynthetic system