Research Article Open Access

A Comparative Analysis on the Physiological Effects of the Physical and Chemical Properties of the Trihalomethanes on Nutrient Levels, Oxidative Stress and Sterol Compositions of Leaf Oils in Solanum Lycopersicum Cultivars

Babatunde C. Akande1, Olalekan S. Fatoki1, James P. Odendaal1, Jeanine L. Marnewick2, Patrick Ndakidemi3 and Olatunde S. Olatunji4
  • 1 Faculty of Applied Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town Campus, Keizersgracht, P.O. Box652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
  • 2 Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, An Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville 7535, South Africa
  • 3 School of Life Sciences, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box447, Arusha, Tanzania
  • 4 School of Chemistry and Physics, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa

Abstract

Trihalomethane group of disinfection by-products was used to evaluate the magnitude of physiological changes induced on nutrient levels, oxidative stress and phytosterol content in two tomato cultivars. The tomato cultivars were grown as potted plants in a greenhouse and exposed to the varying concentrations of trihalomethanes and organochlorines via irrigation water for a period of 30 days. The concentration levels of nitrogen, potassium and boron in both cultivars significantly (p<0.05) decreased with increasing chlorination. A significant (p<0.05) increase in total polyphenol content, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and guaiacol peroxidase activity was observed in both cultivars. Increase in chlorination could probably be partly responsible for the induction of a greater antioxidant response, as well as the increased free phytosterol content in the tomatoes leaf oils, while β-sitosterol content decreased. In general, the magnitude of the effect of the increasing number of chlorine atoms in the trihalomethane structure were greater than the effects of increasing concentration on nutrient levels. Although, trihalomethanes induced significant physiological changes in some of the measured parameters, no plant mortality was recorded even at the highest concentrations.

American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Volume 13 No. 1, 2018, 77-96

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2018.77.96

Submitted On: 7 November 2017 Published On: 11 May 2018

How to Cite: Akande, B. C., Fatoki, O. S., Odendaal, J. P., Marnewick, J. L., Ndakidemi, P. & Olatunji, O. S. (2018). A Comparative Analysis on the Physiological Effects of the Physical and Chemical Properties of the Trihalomethanes on Nutrient Levels, Oxidative Stress and Sterol Compositions of Leaf Oils in Solanum Lycopersicum Cultivars. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 13(1), 77-96. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2018.77.96

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Keywords

  • Antioxidants
  • Halogenation
  • Nutrient Concentration
  • Oxidative Stress
  • ROS
  • Tomato