Speciation dependant antioxidative response in roots and leaves of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv CO 27) under Cr(III) and Cr(VI) stress

Growth, lipid peroxidation, H₂O₂ produciton and the response of the antioxidant enzymes and metabolites of the ascorbate glutathione pathway to oxidative stress caused by two concentrations (50 and 100 µM) of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was studied in 15 day old seedlings of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv CO 27) after 10 days of treatment. Cr accumulation in sorghum plants was concentration and organ dependant. There was no significant growth retardation of plants under 50 µM Cr(III) stress. 100 µM Cr(VI) was most toxic of all the treatments in terms of root and leaf growth and oxidative stress. 50 µM Cr(VI) treated roots exhibited high significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) (p < 0.01) and significant increases in catalse (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) (p < 0.05). A high increase in ascorbic acid (AA) level was seen in roots of 50 µM Cr(VI) treated plants in comparison with control. Levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) showed a varied and complex response in all the treatments in both plant parts. GSH/GSSG ratio was not affected by Cr(III) treatment in leaves, in contrast, roots exhibited significant reduction in the ratio. Results indicate that GSH depletion increased sensitivity to oxidative stress (Cr(VI) roots and leaves and Cr(III) 100 µM roots) and AA in tandem with APX compensated for GSH depletion by acting directly on H₂O₂ and the mechanism of defensive response in roots as well as leaves varied in its degree and effectiveness due to the concentration dependant differences observed in translocation of the element itself, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and enzyme inhibition based on the oxidation state supplied to the plants.