Today, with the increasing population, industrialization and technological developments, various pollutants reach aquatic environments and environmental pollution is increasing day by day. The most common examples of this type of pollution are heavy metal ions such as Hg from mining activities, some nitrogen compounds used in agriculture, chlorinated organic molecules from sewage or water treatment plants, and acids formed as a result of various production activities 2. The biggest cause of water pollution is chemicals discharged into natural water bodies as a result of human activities. Common consequences of water pollution on ecosystems include the death of species, loss of biodiversity and loss of ecosystem services. While the protection of freshwater resources is so essential for humanity, the pollution of natural water bodies by pathogenic microorganisms, radioactive substances, industrial and domestic wastes, organic and inorganic substances as a result of various activities negatively affects water quality. Despite this vital importance, the world's freshwater ecosystems constitute only 0.5% of the earth's surface, and within this percentile, the river constitutes 0.01% and is of great importance 1. Surface and underground water resources are vital in areas such as agriculture, hydropower, animal husbandry, industrial activities, forestry, fisheries, maritime and recreation. It is also one of the best manageable natural resources due to its ability to divert, transport, store and recycle. Water is one of the most important renewable resources for sustainable agricultural production, economic development and general well-being. As a result, heavy metals detected in the water samples of Pazarsuyu stream caused multiple toxicities in the bio-indicator plant, and lycopene reduced this toxicity and recorded a protective role.Ĭlimate change and rapid industrialization cause reduction and pollution in water resources. Lycopene application showed a protective role by providing an increase in germination parameters and MI, decrease in MN and CAs frequencies, and improvements in MDA, SOD and CAT activities.

Simultaneous application of lycopene with stream water reduced the effects of heavy metals and resulted in a dose-dependent improvement in all parameters studied.

cepa root tip cells were associated with the presence of heavy metals in the water samples. Stream water application promoted anatomical damages such as epidermis and cortex cell damage, accumulation of some substances in cortex cells, flattened cell nucleus and non-apparent appearance of conduction tissue in root tip meristem cells. CA observed with high frequency was also confirmed by DNA fragmentation determined by the Comet test. In addition, MN and CAs frequencies, indicating the genotoxic effects, were increased and significant abnormalities were detected in MDA, SOD and CAT levels, which indicate the deterioration of antioxidant/oxidant balance. Germination percentage, root length and weight gain of the group treated with Pazarsuyu water samples were decreased 50%, 73% and 68%, respectively compared to control. As a result, germination-related parameters and meristematic cell proliferation of bulbs germinated with Pazarsuyu water samples decreased significantly. Heavy metals pollution was analyzed with ICP-MS and Fe > Sr > Ba > Be > Mo > Li were determined according to the rate of presence in the water samples of Pazarsuyu. bulbs were divided into six groups and germinated for 72 h with 215 mg/L and 430 mg/L doses of lycopene, tap water and stream water. Germination percentage, root length and weight gain as physiological markers of toxicity mitotic index (MI), micronucleus (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) as genetic markers of toxicity malondialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as biochemical markers of toxicity, and meristematic cell damages were used as anatomical markers. In this study, heavy metal pollution in the Pazarsuyu stream of Giresun province and the protective role of lycopene against the toxicity caused by this pollution were investigated using the Allium test.

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