Irina Sergeevna Bodnar, Anatoly Petrovich Karmanov, Lyudmila Sergeevna Kocheva, Evgenia Vasilevna Cheban, Oksana Veniaminovna Raskosha

EXOGENOUS LIGNIN ENHANCES THE RESISTANCE OF LEMNA MINOR L. AQUATIC PLANTS TO COPPER STRESS

Introduction

Exogenous lignin enhances the resistance of lemna minor l. Aquatic plants to copper stress. Lignin from ledum significantly enhances Lemna minor L. aquatic plants' resistance to copper stress. This study reveals lignin's protective effects and adaptive properties.

Abstract

Currently, there is a growing interest in preparations made from lignin, due to their various useful properties. These include biodegradability, biocompatibility, harmlessness, and a wide range of biological activities. For the first time, the fundamental possibility of using exogenous lignin to protect aquatic plant organisms from the negative effects of copper ions has been demonstrated in this work. Lignin from ledum (Ledum palustre L.) was tested as a chemoprotective agent. Presents the results of a study on the biological activity of isolated lignin on a laboratory culture of duckweed (Lemna minor L.) under the influence of a copper stress factor. During the experiments, we established the values of biomarkers for plant well-being (growth rate, level of damage, frond area, content of malondialdehyde and chlorophyll) and found that water-soluble lignin from ledum was not toxic to plant organisms. Preliminary cultivation of plants in aqueous lignin-containing media increased the total frond area, had a positive effect on growth rate, and reduced the level of damage to duckweed in copper-containing aqueous media. It was concluded that pre-treating duckweed with water-soluble lignin would increase the plant's resistance to copper stress. The data obtained confirm the opinion about the adaptive and protective properties of lignin under the influence of stress factors of various nature.

Review

This abstract presents a compelling case for the novel application of exogenous lignin in mitigating copper stress in aquatic plants. The authors successfully demonstrate, for the first time according to their claim, the protective potential of water-soluble lignin from *Ledum palustre L.* on *Lemna minor L.* exposed to copper. This research is highly relevant given the growing interest in sustainable, biodegradable, and biocompatible preparations like lignin, and addresses a significant environmental challenge posed by heavy metal pollution. The clear identification of the experimental setup, including the specific lignin source and model organism, provides a solid foundation for the reported findings. The methodology outlined, though briefly, appears sound, utilizing well-established biomarkers for plant health, such as growth rate, frond area, level of damage, and the biochemical markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and chlorophyll content. The key findings—that lignin itself is non-toxic and that preliminary cultivation in lignin-containing media positively impacts growth, increases total frond area, and reduces damage under copper stress—are strongly indicative of a protective effect. The reduction in damage and the maintenance of essential physiological processes under stress conditions directly support the conclusion that lignin enhances plant resistance, affirming its adaptive and protective properties. While the abstract provides a strong overview, a full manuscript would benefit from a more detailed exploration of the potential mechanisms underlying lignin's protective action. Further discussion on whether lignin acts primarily as a chelator for copper ions, an antioxidant, or by modulating plant defense responses would significantly enhance the scientific contribution. Additionally, specifying the concentrations of both copper and lignin used, and perhaps the duration of exposure for both pre-treatment and stress, would provide crucial context for reproducibility and practical application. Nevertheless, this work effectively highlights a promising avenue for utilizing lignin as a natural chemoprotective agent in environmental remediation and plant stress management.

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