外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)幼苗根系抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环中抗氧化物质和抗氧化酶系的影响.结果表明:外施适量NO(硝普钠)可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA(氧化型抗坏血酸)、GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽),降低DHA和GSSG含量.添加100 μmol·L-1 BSO(谷胱甘肽合成酶抑制剂)处理下,外源NO可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA含量、AsA/DHA及抗坏血酸酶(AAO)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)比活性,降低DHA、GSH、GSSG含量及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)比活性;添加250 μmol·L-1 BSO处理下,外源NO提高了铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA、GSH、GSSG含量、AsA/DHA及APX和GR比活性,降低了DHA含量及AAO、DHAR和MDHAR比活性.说明外源NO影响了铜胁迫下番茄根系的AsA-GSH代谢循环,并通过调节AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG的变化来减轻氧化胁迫,从而缓解铜胁迫对番茄根系的伤害.     

外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系抗坏血酸谷胱甘肽循环的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究外源NO对铜胁迫下番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)幼苗根系抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环中抗氧化物质和抗氧化酶系的影响.结果表明：外施适量NO(硝普钠)可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA(氧化型抗坏血酸)、GSH/GSSG(氧化型谷胱甘肽),降低DHA和GSSG含量.添加100 μmol·L^-1 BSO(谷胱甘肽合成酶抑制剂)处理下,外源NO可提高铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA含量、AsA/DHA及抗坏血酸酶(AAO)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)比活性,降低DHA、GSH、GSSG含量及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)比活性;添加250 μmol·L^-1 BSO处理下,外源NO提高了铜胁迫下番茄幼苗根系的AsA、GSH、GSSG含量、AsA/DHA及APX和GR比活性,降低了DHA含量及AAO、DHAR和MDHAR比活性.说明外源NO影响了铜胁迫下番茄根系的AsA-GSH代谢循环,并通过调节AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG的变化来减轻氧化胁迫,从而缓解铜胁迫对番茄根系的伤害.     

不结球白菜维生素C积累与相关酶活性研究

对不结球白菜‘常州乌塌菜’、‘矮脚黄’和‘二青’生长过程中维生素C(AsA)含量和L-半乳糖酸-1,4-内酯脱氢酶(GalLDH)、抗坏血酸氧化酶(AAO)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)的活性进行测定分析,结果显示,AsA含量的积累呈先升高后下降的模式,且‘常州乌塌菜’中的AsA含量显著高于‘矮脚黄’和‘二青’;GalLDH活性与AsA含量变化趋势基本一致,且3个品种中GalL-DH活性与AsA积累之间均呈极显著的正相关关系;AAO和APX活性的变化趋势则与AsA含量变化趋势相反,而‘常州乌塌菜’中AAO活性显著低于其它2个品种,但APX活性无显著差异;MDAR和DHAR的活性则主要表现在生长后期。结果表明,不结球白菜中AsA含量主要受GalLDH酶活性调节,同时AsA代谢酶AAO也对AsA积累起到了重要作用,而MDAR和DHAR酶活性对AsA积累的作用主要在生长后期。     

5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)对盐胁迫下葡萄叶片中AsA-GSH循环的影响

以两个耐盐程度不同的葡萄品种‘夏黑’(耐盐性较弱)和‘里扎马特’(耐盐性较强)为材料,分析了不同浓度ALA对不同浓度盐胁迫下葡萄叶片中AsA-GSH循环的影响。研究表明:喷施75 mg·L-1 ALA可显著提高2 g·kg-1盐胁迫下‘夏黑’葡萄叶片中抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)的活性以及还原型抗坏血酸(As A)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量和AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比值,显著降低氢抗坏血酸(DHA)与氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量;而喷施150 mg·L-1 ALA可显著提高4 g·kg-1盐胁迫下‘里扎马特’葡萄叶片中APX、GR、MDHAR、DHAR的活性以及AsA、GSH含量和AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比值,显著降低DHA与GSSG含量。     

海藻酸铈配合物对毒死蜱胁迫下菠菜叶片抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的影响

以菠菜(Spinacia oleracea L.)为材料,研究了毒死蜱胁迫下海藻酸铈配合物对菠菜叶片抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的影响。结果表明,在毒死蜱胁迫下,菠菜叶片中H2O2积累量比对照明显增加,非酶促抗氧化物质-抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量明显降低,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)和单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDAR)的活性明显升高。在毒死蜱胁迫下,喷施不同浓度的海藻酸铈配合物使菠菜叶片中的H2O2积累量减少,AsA和GSH含量升高,APX、GR、DHAR和MDAR等抗氧化酶活性也有所提高,缓解了毒死蜱胁迫。试验表明,适宜浓度的海藻酸铈配合物处理可使菠菜叶片对毒死蜱胁迫有一定的缓解作用。     

甜樱桃‘佐藤锦’果实生长发育过程AsA含量及其相关酶活性的变化

以黄肉甜樱桃品种‘佐藤锦’为材料,测定了其果实生长发育过程中抗坏血酸(AsA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量变化,及其相关代谢酶L-半乳糖脱氢酶(GalDH)、L-半乳糖-1-4-内酯酶(GalLDH)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和过氧化物酶(APX)的活性变化,分析它们在果实生长发育过程中对AsA积累所起的作用。结果表明:(1)‘佐藤锦’果实生长发育过程中总抗坏血酸(T-AsA)、还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)、脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)、氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量均在花后0d最高,随后持续下降,而总谷胱甘肽(T-GSH)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量先升后降。(2)随着果实生长发育,AsA和DHA的单果积累量均持续增加,且在果实第二次快速生长期增幅最大;各相关代谢酶活性在甜樱桃果实生长发育过程中呈现出不同的变化趋势,其中GalLDH、MDHAR和DHAR的活性变化同AsA含量变化趋势基本一致。(3)相关性分析发现,GalLDH、MDHAR和DHAR的活性与AsA含量呈极显著正相关关系,说明它们是影响甜樱桃果实AsA含量的关键酶。     

根系抗坏血酸在小麦幼苗铝耐性中的作用

以3个铝耐性不同的小麦品种为材料,研究了Al胁迫下小麦幼苗根系质外体和共质体抗坏血酸含量以及抗坏血酸氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性的变化。结果显示,Al耐性品种‘Atlas 66’质外体中抗坏血酸总含量随着处理 Al浓度的增加显著升高,而在Al敏感品种‘Scout 66’和‘扬麦9号’中显著降低。同时,‘Atlas 66’质外体中还原型抗坏血酸含量在高浓度Al处理下显著升高,2个敏感品种则在低浓度Al处理下还原型抗坏血酸含量略有升高。耐性品种‘Atlas 66’根系共质体还原型抗坏血酸和抗坏血酸总量在5～40μmol·L-1AlCl3处理下无显著变化,而在 2个敏感品种中则随处理Al浓度的增加显著下降。80μmol·L-1AlCl3处理下‘Atlas 66’根系质外体和共质体抗坏血酸氧化酶以及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性与对照相比均无显著变化,而在‘Scout 66’和‘扬麦9号’中则均显著降低。因此Al胁迫下‘Atlas 66’根系质外体抗坏血酸含量的升高和共质体抗坏血酸含量的维持以及Al毒害下抗坏血酸利用率较高可能是其Al耐性的一个重要机制。     

褪黑素对高温胁迫下黄瓜幼苗抗坏血酸代谢系统的影响

以‘津春4号’黄瓜幼苗为试材,采用叶面喷施的方法,研究了外源褪黑素对高温胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片抗坏血酸代谢系统的影响.结果表明:高温胁迫后,黄瓜幼苗叶片过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量明显增加;还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量持续下降,脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量逐渐升高,AsA/DHA和GSH/GSSG大幅下降;抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APx)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性明显升高,并在12 h达到最大.外施褪黑素能有效抑制高温胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片H2O2和MDA的积累,提高抗氧化物质AsA和GSH含量及抗坏血酸代谢相关酶APx、MDHAR、DHAR和GR活性,从而增强对H2O2的清除能力,抑制活性氧的产生,维持细胞膜的稳定性,减轻高温对植株造成的伤害,提高黄瓜幼苗抵御高温胁迫的能力.     

黑穗醋栗叶片衰老过程中抗坏血酸含量及相关酶活性的变化特征

该试验以3个不同黑穗醋栗品种‘亚德’(Adelinia)、‘布劳德’(Brodtrop)和‘黑丰’(Heifeng)为材料,分析黑穗醋栗8个不同发育时期叶片(幼叶到衰老叶)中的抗坏血酸(AsA)含量、合成与代谢相关酶活性,以明确叶片生长发育及自然衰老过程中AsA含量与代谢合成相关酶之间的关系,为寻找黑穗醋栗最佳叶片采摘时期、AsA含量调控及延缓叶片衰老进程研究奠定基础。结果表明:(1)不同品种黑穗醋栗叶片中AsA含量和AsA相关代谢物水平存在明显的多样性;在叶片生长发育过程中,叶片总抗环血酸(T-AsA)和AsA含量在3个品种中变化趋势一致,均在成熟期叶中达到最高,其中‘亚德’成熟期叶片中AsA含量最高(98.33μmol/g),之后随着叶片的衰老而迅速下降,在衰老后期降至34.57μmol/g。(2)在叶片生长发育进程中,L-半乳糖途径中的关键酶L-半乳糖-1,4-内酯脱氢酶(GalLDH)活性变化与AsA含量变化趋势一致;AsA-GSH循环再生代谢中,脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性在展叶期最高,之后随着叶片的衰老而降至最低,这与AsA含量变化趋势相似,而抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性变化与之正好相反;叶片H2O2含量则随着叶片的衰老逐渐增加,至衰老期达到最高。(3)GalLDH与T-AsA、AsA、氧化型抗坏血酸(DHA)、DHAR和MDHAR呈现极显著正相关关系,即叶片中GalLDH活性越高,叶片中AsA含量也越高;DHAR与T-AsA、AsA和DHA也存在极显著正相关关系。研究认为,黑穗醋栗叶片中AsA含量于成熟期达到最高,且品种间存在显著差异;GalLDH、DHAR可能是黑穗醋栗叶片AsA合成代谢的关键酶,可通过增强GalLDH和AsA-GSH循环系统相关酶活性来提高黑穗醋栗叶片中的AsA含量,进而延缓其衰老。     

外源硝酸钙对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片抗氧化系统及膜质子泵活性的影响

采用营养液水培法,以较耐盐黄瓜品种"新泰密刺"为试验材料,研究了叶面喷施硝酸钙对盐胁迫(NaCl65mmol·L-1)下黄瓜幼苗活性氧、谷胱甘肽-抗坏血酸循环(GluAsA)中抗氧化酶和抗氧化物质及膜质子泵活性的影响。结果表明:叶面喷施硝酸钙能够显著降低盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片超氧阴离子(O.2-)产生速率和丙二醛(MDA)含量;显著提高盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)等酶活性、抗氧化物质抗坏血酸(AsA)含量、AsA/DHA和GSH/GSSG比值及质膜和液泡膜H+-ATPase和H+-PPase活性。表明外源硝酸钙通过提高Glu-AsA抗氧化系统和膜质子泵活性,降低活性氧对叶片的伤害,增强了植株抗氧化能力和对离子的区域化,进而提高植株盐胁迫耐性。     

Modulation of cadmium-induced oxidative stress in Ceratophyllum demersum by zinc involves ascorbate-glutathione cycle and glutathione metabolism.

To understand the interaction between Zn, an essential micronutrient and Cd, a non-essential element, Cd-10 microM and Zn supplemented (10, 50, 100, and 200 microM) Cd 10 microM treated Ceratophyllum demersum L. (Coontail), a free floating freshwater macrophyte was chosen for the study. Cadmium at 10 microM concentration decreased thiol content, enhanced oxidation of ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) to dehydroascorbate (DHA) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG), respectively, a clear indication of oxidative stress. Zinc supplementation to Cd (10 microM) treated plants effectively restored thiols, inhibited oxidation of AsA and GSH maintaining the redox molecules in reduced form. Cd-10 microM slightly induced ascorbate peroxidase (APX, E.C. 1.11.1.11) but inhibited monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR, E.C. 1.6.5.4), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, E.C. 1.8.5.1) and glutathione reductase (GR, E.C. 1.6.4.2), enzymes of ascorbate-glutathione cycle (AGC). Zn supplementation restored and enhanced the functional activity of all the AGC enzymes (APX, MDHAR, DHAR and GR). Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS, E.C. 6.3.2.2) was not affected by Cd as well as Zn, but Zn supplements increased glutathione-S-transferase (GST, E.C. 2.5.1.18) activity to a greater extent than Cd and simultaneously restored glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX, E.C. 1.11.1.9) activity impaired by Cd toxicity. Zn-alone treatments did not change above investigated parameters. These results clearly indicate the protective role of Zn in modulating the redox status of the plant system through the antioxidant pathway AGC and GSH metabolic enzymes for combating Cd induced oxidative stress.     

Metal/metalloid stress tolerance in plants: role of ascorbate,its redox couple,and associated enzymes

The enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under metal/metalloid stress is most common in plants, and the elevated ROS must be successfully metabolized in order to maintain plant growth, development, and productivity. Ascorbate (AsA) is a highly abundant metabolite and a water-soluble antioxidant, which besides positively influencing various aspects in plants acts also as an enigmatic component of plant defense armory. As a significant component of the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) pathway, it performs multiple vital functions in plants including growth and development by either directly or indirectly metabolizing ROS and its products. Enzymes such as monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) maintain the reduced form of AsA pool besides metabolically controlling the ratio of AsA with its oxidized form (dehydroascorbate, DHA). Ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) utilizes the reduced AsA pool as the specific electron donor during ROS metabolism. Thus, AsA, its redox couple (AsA/DHA), and related enzymes (MDHAR, DHAR, and APX) cumulatively form an AsA redox system to efficiently protect plants particularly against potential anomalies caused by ROS and its products. Here we present a critical assessment of the recent research reports available on metal/metalloid-accrued modulation of reduced AsA pool, AsA/DHA redox couple and AsA-related major enzymes, and the cumulative significance of these antioxidant system components in plant metal/metalloid stress tolerance.     

Enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress in transgenic tobacco plants expressing three antioxidant enzymes in chloroplasts

The effect of simultaneous expression of genes encoding three antioxidant enzymes, copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), and dehydroascorbate (DHA) reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), in the chloroplasts of tobacco plants was investigated under oxidative stress conditions. In previous studies, transgenic tobacco plants expressing both CuZnSOD and APX in chloroplast (CA plants), or DHAR in chloroplast showed enhanced tolerance to oxidative stresses, such as paraquat and salt. In this study, in order to develop transgenic plants that were more resistant to oxidative stress, we introduced the gene encoding DHAR into CA transgenic plants. Mature leaves of transgenic plants expressing all three antioxidant genes (CAD plants) had approximately 1.6–2.1 times higher DHAR activity, and higher ratios of reduced ascorbate (AsA) to DHA, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to reduced glutathione (GSH) compared to CA plants. CAD plants were more resistant to paraquat-induced stress, exhibiting only 18.1% reduction in membrane damage relative to CA plants. In addition, seedlings of CAD plants had enhanced tolerance to NaCI (100 mM) compared to CA plants. These results indicate that the simultaneous expression of multiple antioxidant enzymes, such as CuZnSOD, APX, and DHAR, in chloroplasts is more effective than single or double expression for developing transgenic plants with enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses.     

乙烯与NO互作对镉胁迫下荷花的抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的影响

以荷花‘微山湖红莲’实生苗为试验材料,研究镉(Cd,50 μmol·L^-1)胁迫下,外源乙烯前体1-氨基环丙烷羧酸(ACC,100 μmol·L^-1)、ACC与一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂N-硝基-L-精氨酸(L-NNA,200 μmol·L^-1)、ACC与硝酸还原酶(NR)抑制剂钨酸钠(Tu,1 mmol·L^-1),ACC与一氧化氮(NO)清除剂2-苯基-4,4,5,5-四甲基咪唑啉-3-氧代-1-氧(PTIO,200 μmol·L^-1),外源NO供体硝普钠(SNP,500 μmol·L^-1)、SNP与乙烯信号转导抑制剂硫代硫酸银(STS,100 μmol·L^-1)处理下荷花幼苗叶片的受害程度及抗坏血酸(AsA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环的变化情况.结果表明: Cd胁迫下,荷花叶片受害症状明显,其相对电导率、丙二醛(MDA)、AsA和GSH含量显著上升,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性明显降低;ACC的添加进一步增加了Cd对荷花叶片的毒害症状,并加剧了4种抗氧化酶活性的降低,但增加了抗氧化剂的含量;SNP的添加对荷花叶片的伤害起到加重作用,并导致GR和MDHAR活性降低以及AsA和GSH含量的升高;PTIO可显著提高Cd和ACC复合处理下荷花叶片APX、GR、MDHAR和DHAR的活性并降低AsA和GSH的含量,而L-NNA和Tu效果不如PTIO明显;STS可显著缓解Cd和SNP复合处理下荷花叶片的毒害症状,并提高4种抗氧化酶的活性、降低AsA和GSH的含量.由此说明,乙烯和NO在AsA-GSH循环中存在互作,二者相互促进,共同调控AsA-GSH循环,进而参与调控荷花对Cd胁迫的响应.     

Nickel-induced oxidative stress and the role of antioxidant defence in rice seedlings

Seedlings of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Pant-12 grown in sand cultures containing 200 and 400 μM NiSO₄, showed a decrease in length and fresh weight of roots and shoots. Nickel was readily taken up by rice seedlings and the concentration was higher in roots than shoots. Nickel-treated seedlings showed increased rates of superoxide anion (O₂ ^•− ) production, elevated levels of H₂O₂ and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) demonstrating enhanced lipid peroxidation, and a decline in protein thiol levels indicative of increased protein oxidation compared to controls. With progressively higher Ni concentrations, non-protein thiol and ascorbate (AsA) increased, whereas the level of low-molecular-weight thiols (such as glutathione and hydroxyl-methyl glutathione), the ratio of these thiols to their corresponding disulphides, and the ratio of AsA to dehydroascorbic acid declined in the seedlings. Among the antioxidant enzymes studied, the activities of all isoforms of superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD, Mn SOD and Fe SOD), guaiacol peroxidases (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased in Ni-treated seedlings, while no clear alteration in catalase activity was evident. Activity of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle enzymes monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR)—significantly increased in Ni-treated seedlings. However such increase was apparently insufficient to maintain the intracellular redox balance. Results suggest that Ni induces oxidative stress in rice plants, resulting in enhanced lipid peroxidation and decline in protein thiol levels, and that (hydroxyl-methyl) glutathione and AsA in conjunction with Cu-Zn SOD, GPX and APX are involved in stress response.     

The decline in ascorbic acid content is associated with cadmium toxicity of rice seedlings

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Taichung Native 1) seedlings was evaluated by the decrease in chlorophyll content and the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) in the second leaves of rice seedlings. CdCl₂ (5 μM) treatment was accompanied by a decrease in the contents of ascorbic acid (AsA) and AsA + dehydroascorbate (DHA) and in the ratios of AsA/DHA in leaves. However, CdCl₂ treatment resulted in an increase in DHA content in leaves. Moreover, the decrease in AsA content was prior to the occurrence of chlorosis and associated with the increase in MDA content in the leaves of seedlings treated with Cd. Pretreatment with 0.5 mM AsA or l-galactono-1,4-lactone (GalL), the biosynthetic precursor of AsA, for 6 h resulted in an increase in the contents of AsA and reduced glutathione (GSH), the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/oxidized glutathione, and the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) in the leaves of rice seedlings. Quantitative RT-PCR was applied to quantify the mRNA levels for OsAPX and OsGR genes from rice leaves to examine the effect of AsA or GalL pretreatment on the expression of OsAPX and OsGR genes in rice leaves. The expression of OsAPX2, OsAPX3, OsAPX4, OsAPX5, OsAPX6, OsAPX7, and OsGR1 was increased by AsA or GalL pretreatment. Rice seedlings pretreated with AsA or GalL were observed to reduce the subsequent Cd-induced toxicity. Our results suggest that AsA content may play a role in regulating Cd toxicity of rice seedlings.