Bioindication of water pollution of Lake Sevan freshwater ecosystem (Armenia) using model test-object

Abstract

For the last years in Armenia water resources (Lake Sevan) have been affected by intensive anthropogenic impact. The process of bioindication of freshwater ecosystems genotoxic effects using sensitive test objects is very appropriate and effective. The genotoxic and clastogenic effects of water samples in seven locations of  Lake Sevan basin (Armenia) with the application of Trad-SHM (staimen hair mutation) and Trad-MCN (micronuclei in tetrads of microspores) bioassays using Tradescantia (clone 02) were investigated. A significant increase in the frequency of somatic resessive mutation and micronuclei in tetrads and tetrads with micronuclei in microspores of the plant exposed to the test samples- Tsapatagh, Litchk and Martuni compared to the background has been revealed. The significant positive correlation between the RME frequency and the concentration of some chemical elements (Si, P, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu) in the studied water samples was showed. Also, the positive correlation between tetrads with micronuclei frequency and the concentration of Ni and Co in the investigating water samples was established.