Alleviation of exogenous oligochitosan on wheat seedlings growth under salt stress

Hydroponic experiments were carried out to study the role of oligochitosan in enhancing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) resistance to salt stress. Data were collected on plant biomass, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate (P _n), stomatal conductance (g _s), proline content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Under 150 mM salt stress, plant growth was significantly inhibited. Shoot length, root length, and dry weight were sharply reduced by 26%, 31%, and 20%, respectively, of the control. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) were increased by 28%, 13%, and 26%, respectively, of the control and MDA content largely accumulated, which was 1.5-fold of the control. However, 0.0625% oligochitosan pretreatment alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress, which was reflected by increasing root length, shoot length, dry weight, chlorophyll content, P _n, and g _s. Furthermore, it also showed that oligochitosan pretreatment significantly increased antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT and POD) activities, and reduced MDA content in leaves. Meanwhile, the accumulation of proline was markedly accelerated. The results indicated that oligochitosan pretreatment ameliorated the adverse effects and partially protected the seedlings from salt stress during the following growth period.     

Oxidative damages induced by short-term exposure to cadmium in bean plants: Protective role of salicylic acid

The role of salicylic acid (SA) in alleviating cadmium (Cd) toxicity was investigated in a hydroponic cultivation system. Short-term exposure of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants to 20 μM Cd inhibited biomass production and intensively increased accumulation of Cd in both roots and leaves. At leaf level, Cd significantly decreased mineral ions, chlorophyll and carotenoids concentrations. Concomitantly, Cd enhanced electrolyte leakage, H₂O₂ content and lipid peroxidation as indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. SA pretreatment decreased the uptake and the transport of Cd, alleviated the Cd-induced inhibition of nutrient absorption and led to a significant increase of chlorophyll and carotenoid content. SA application alleviated the oxidative damages as evidenced by the lowered H₂O₂ and MDA content. SA particularly induced an increase in both CAT and APX activities accompanied by a significant reduction in SOD and POD activities. As important antioxidants, ascorbate and glutathione contents in bean leaves exposed to cadmium were significantly decreased by SA treatment. These results reveal the potentiating effect of salicylic acid in regulating cadmium induced oxidative stress in bean plants.     

The Effect of Salinity Pretreatment on Cd Accumulation and Cd-Induced Stress in <Emphasis Type="Italic">BADH</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">-</Emphasis>Transgenic and Nontransgenic Rice Seedlings

The influence of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) and salinity pretreatment on oxidative stress under cadmium (Cd) toxicity was investigated in rice cv. Xiushui 11 and its BADH-transgenic line Bxiushui 11. The results showed that plants previously treated with 4.25 and 8.5 mM NaCl, respectively, for 5 days each had higher Cd concentrations in both roots and shoots of the two rice genotypes compared with the controls. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in both leaves and roots was increased by salinity pretreatment and was significantly lower in the salinity-pretreatment plants than in the controls when the plants were consequently exposed to Cd stress. Salinity pretreatment also increased proline content and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in both leaves and roots. It can be assumed that salinity pretreatment enhances the defensive ability of plants against oxidative stress through increasing activities of antioxidative enzymes. The BADH-transgenic line (Bxiushui 11) had lower Cd and MDA content, higher SOD and POD activities, and higher proline content than its wild type (Xiushui 11). The current results suggest that betaine, a product of BADH expression, improves the tolerance of rice plants to Cd stress through increasing the activities of antioxidative enzymes and osmoprotectant content.     

Effect of salicylic acid pretreatment on drought stress responses of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica)

The present study was carried out to examine the effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and some physiological and biochemical characteristics of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) plants subjected to drought. Aqueous 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mM SA solution was sprayed on the leaves of zoysiagrass for 3 days. Drought was induced by withholding watering for 16 days after SA application. Biomass, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (P _n), activities of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)), MDA and proline contents were determined. Pretreatments with 0.1 and 0.5 mM SA significantly increased fresh and dry weights and chlorophyll content, while 1 mM SA pretreatment did not show significant change compared to controls. SA pretreatments showed a marked increase in P _n compared with controls from the 7th to 16th day after drought start. Activities of SOD, POD, and CAT were increased by SA pretreatments. MDA and proline contents after 0.1 and 0.5 mM pretreatments were lower than those of controls from the 6th to 12th day of drought, while 1 mM SA pretreatment did not show significant change from the 0th to 9th day of drought. This work suggests that suitable exogenous SA (0.5 mM) helps zoysiagrass to perform better under drought stress by enhancing the net photosynthetic rate and antioxidant enzyme activities while decreasing lipid peroxidation as compared to the controls. SA could be used as a potential growth regulator for improving plant growth under drought stress.     

Salicylic acid-mediated alleviation of cadmium toxicity in hemp plants in relation to cadmium uptake,photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzymes

To assess the role of salicylic acid (SA) in alleviating cadmium (Cd) toxicity in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) plants, the growth parameters, Cd accumulation, photosynthetic performance and activities of major antioxidant enzymes were investigated in hemp seedlings treated with 500 μM SA, under 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg Cd kg⁻¹ sands (DW) conditions, respectively. Cd exposure resulted in a small reduction in biomass (12.0–26.9% for root, and 8.7–29.4% for shoot, respectively), indicating hemp plants have innate capacity to tolerant Cd stress. This was illustrated by little inhibition in photosynthetic performance, unchanged malondialdehyde content, and enhancement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidases (POD) activities in hemp plants. Cd content in root is 25.0–29.5 times’ higher than that in shoot, suggesting the plant can be classified as a Cd excluder. It is concluded that SA pretreatment counteracted the Cd-induced inhibition in plant growth. The beneficial effects of SA in alleviating Cd toxicity can be attributed to the SA-induced reduction of Cd uptake, improvement of photosynthetic capacity, and enhancement of SOD and POD activities.     

Characteristics of cadmium accumulation and tolerance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rorippa globosa</Emphasis> (Turcz.) Thell., a species with some characteristics of cadmium hyperaccumulation

Characteristics of cadmium (Cd) accumulation and tolerance in Rorippa globosa (Turcz.) Thell., a species with some characteristics of cadmium hyperaccumulation were further investigated and compared with a closely related species, Rorippa islandica. The results showed that there was no phytotoxicity for R. globosa leaves or reduction in biomass when treated with 25 μg Cd g⁻¹, although the concentration of Cd accumulated in the leaves was up to 218.9 μg Cd g⁻¹ dry weight (DW). On the contrary, Cd toxicity was observed in R. islandica leaves by way of determining changes in fresh weight (FW), malondialdehyde (MDA) level and chlorophyll content while treated with 25 μg Cd g⁻¹ DW. R. globosa had stronger self-protection ability than R. islandica to adapt to oxidative stress caused by Cd. Application of Cd significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leaves, the activity of peroxidase (POD) in roots, and the activity of catalase (CAT) in leaves and roots of R. globosa. By contrast, in R. islandica, the activity of antioxidant enzymes was inhibited or unchanged by various Cd treatments. However, R. globosa leaves had higher activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and POD than that of R. islandica. The antioxidative defense systems in R. globosa might play an important role in Cd tolerance. The Cd treatments significantly induced the synthesis of phytochelatins (PCs) in the two species. Leaf PCs and Cd accumulation by R. globosa were much greater than those by R. islandica, but root PCs and Cd accumulation by R. islandica were much greater than those by R. globosa, suggesting that PCs in leaves may be a biomarker of Cd hyperaccumulation, and the synthesis of PCs may be related to an increase in the uptake of Cd ions into the cytoplasm, not the primary mechanism for Cd tolerance.     

Genotype-Dependent Effect of Exogenous Nitric Oxide on Cd-induced Changes in Antioxidative Metabolism, Ultrastructure, and Photosynthetic Performance in Barley Seedlings (Hordeum vulgare)

A greenhouse hydroponic experiment was performed using Cd-sensitive (cv. Dong 17) and Cd-tolerant (Weisuobuzhi) barley seedlings to evaluate how different genotypes responded to cadmium (Cd) toxicity in the presence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor. Results showed that 5 μM Cd increased the accumulation of O₂^•−, H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde (MDA) but reduced plant height, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (P _n), and biomass, with a much more severe response in the Cd-sensitive genotype. Antioxidant enzyme activities increased significantly under Cd stress in the roots of the tolerant genotype, whereas in leaves of the sensitive genotype, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxide (APX), especially cytosol ascorbate peroxidase (cAPX), decreased after 5–15 days Cd exposure. Moreover, Cd induces NO synthesis by stimulating nitrate reductase and nitric oxide synthetase-like enzymes in roots/leaves. A Cd-induced NO transient increase in roots of the Cd-tolerant genotype might partly contribute to its Cd tolerance. Exogenous NO dramatically alleviated Cd toxicity, markedly diminished Cd-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA accumulation, ameliorated Cd-induced damage to leaf/root ultrastructure, and increased chlorophyll content and P _n. External NO counteracted the pattern of alterations in certain antioxidant enzymes induced by Cd; for example, it significantly elevated the depressed SOD, APX, and catalase (CAT) activities in the Cd-sensitive genotype after 10- and 15-day treatments. Furthermore, NO significantly increased stromal APX and Mn-SOD activities in both genotypes and upregulated Cd-induced decrease in cAPX activity and gene expression of root/leaf cAPX and leaf CAT1 in the Cd-sensitive genotype. These data suggest that under Cd stress, NO, as a potent antioxidant, protects barley seedlings against oxidative damage by directly and indirectly scavenging ROS and helps to maintain stability and integrity of the subcellular structure.     

Cadmium effects on mineral nutrition and stress in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potamogeton crispus</Emphasis>

The mechanisms of plant tolerance to cadmium stress were studied by short-term exposure of Potamogeton crispus L. to various concentrations of Cd ranging from 0 to 0.09 mM. The accumulation of Cd and its influence on nutrient elements, chlorophyll pigments, ultrastructure, proline and MDA contents, and free radical production, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) were investigated. The higher Cd concentration in the medium resulted in a significant enhancement of Cd accumulation. Photosynthetic pigment content decreased and ultrastructural damage to the leaf cells was aggravated with the increase in the Cd concentrations. Disruption of chloroplasts and mitochondria was observed even at the lowest concentration of Cd. Meantime, the rate of O₂^*− generation and the contents of H₂O₂ and MDA significantly increased under Cd stress, suggesting that Cd caused oxidative stress. In addition, the antioxidant system was clearly activated following Cd exposure. SOD and POD activities increased initially and then decreased, while APX and GR activities markedly increased. Simultaneously, mineral nutrition was disturbed. While K, P, Ca, and Cu contents decreased, Na, Fe, and Mn contents increased. Induction of antioxidant enzyme activities in leaves exposed to elevated Cd concentrations may be involved in Cd tolerance of P. crispus.     

Calcium application enhances growth and alleviates the damaging effects induced by Cd stress in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

In this study, the effects of calcium (Ca²⁺) application on acquired systemic tolerance mechanism to cadmium (Cd) stress in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) were studied. The Cd stress reduced the root and shoot growth of sesame, and plant contents of photosynthetic pigments; however, the application of Ca²⁺ improved these parameters under Cd stress condition. The hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde and soluble sugar contents were higher under Cd stress, and were reduced by Ca²⁺ treatment. The antioxidant enzyme activities in the leaves of sesame, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were higher under Cd stress, whereas reduced concentration was observed in Ca²⁺-treated plants. Cd stress increased the contents of diacylglycerol and sterol ester; however Ca²⁺ treatment resulted in a significant increase in phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine. Our results indicated that application of calcium enables sesame plants to withstand the deleterious impact of cadmium through upregulating acquired systemic tolerance system as lipid fractions (galactolipids, phospholipids, neutral lipids), antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX, GR) hence protect membrane functions.     

Effects of Cadmium,Chromium and Lead on Growth,Metal Uptake and Antioxidative Capacity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typha angustifolia</Emphasis>

This study investigates the modulation of antioxidant defence system of Typha angustifolia after 30 days exposure of 1 mM chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), or lead (Pb). T. angustifolia showed high tolerance to heavy metal toxicity with no visual toxic symptom when exposed to metal stress, and Cd/Pb addition also increased plant height and biomass especially in Pb treatment. Along with increased Cr, Cd, and Pb uptake in metal treatments, there was enhanced uptake of plant nutrients including Ca and Fe, and Zn in Pb treatment. A significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities were recorded in plants subjected to Cr, Cd, or Pb stress. Furthermore, Pb stress also improved catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities; whereas Cr stress depressed APX and GPX. The results indicate that enzymatic antioxidants and Ca/Fe uptake were important for heavy metal detoxification in T. angustifolia, stimulated antioxidative enzymes, and Ca, Fe, and Zn uptake could partially explain its hyper-Pb tolerance.     

Thermotolerance and antioxidant response induced by heat acclimation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Freesia</Emphasis> seedlings

Followed a heat acclimation pretreatment, seedlings of Freesia hybrida ‘Shangnong Jinghuanghou’ were exposed to heat stress at 38°C for 6 h treatment and then recovered at 22°C for 72 h to study the impact of heat acclimation (30°C) on thermotolerance under heat stress. The results showed that the pretreated seedlings performed better under heat stress than control. Heat acclimation could slow down the decrease of chlorophyll contents under heat stress and recover better. Higher levels of soluble sugar and proline and slight lower level of soluble protein were observed in pretreated seedlings. After recovery, similar levels of proline and soluble protein were maintained in all seedlings. However, a higher level of soluble sugar was maintained in pretreated seedlings. MDA content and EL showed a stable level in pretreated seedlings while a significant increase in control, followed by a significant decrease after recovery. Significant different responses of SOD, POD, CAT, and APX activities were observed in pretreated seedlings and control. Heat acclimation led to higher activities of these enzymes and a significant response of antioxidant enzyme activities occurred in a time-dependent manner under heat stress. Exposure to high temperature caused a significant increase in SOD and APX activity, and much higher levels in SOD and APX activity were observed in pretreated seedlings compared to control during heat stress. A slight difference in change pattern of POD and CAT activity was presented. The highest activities of POD and CAT were observed at 4 and 6 h of heat stress in pretreated seedlings and control, respectively. After 72 h recovery, the activities of all tested enzymes decreased to similar levels in all seedlings.     

Role of 5-aminolevulinic acid on growth,photosynthetic parameters and antioxidant enzyme activity in NaCl-stressed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isatis indigotica</Emphasis> Fort.

5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a key precursor for the biosynthesis of porphyrins such as heme and chlorophyll. ALA alleviates salinity stress damage in germinating seeds and improves seedling growth. Exogenous application of ALA at low concentrations has been shown to enhance salt tolerance in a number of plants. In the present study, we studied the effect of exogenous application of ALA on enhancing salt stress tolerance in Isatis indigotica Fort. (Anhui population as S1, Shanxi population as S2). A foliar application of 0, 12.5, 16.7, 25.0, and 50.0 mg/L ALA was given to the leaves of I. indigotica plants treated with 100 mmol/L NaCl. The fresh weight of leaves and roots; chlorophyll relative content (SPAD value); photosynthetic parameters, such as net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci) and water use efficiency of the treated plants were determined. The third leaf of each treated plant was used to determine the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), nitrate reductase (NR) activities and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased in response to 100 mmol/L NaCl in both S1 and S2 plants. However, the fresh weight of leaf and root, chlorophyll relative content, Pn, Gs, Ci decreased in response to salt stress in both S1 and S2 plants. In all foliar application of ALA in S1 plants, the MDA content, and the activities of SOD and POD were the highest in response to 50.0 mg/L foliar application of ALA. GOGAT and NR activities were the highest in response to 16.7 mg/L foliar ALA. Chlorophyll content and Pn were the highest in S1 plants treated with by 25.0 mg/L ALA. In S2 plants, plant fresh weight, chlorophyll relative content, SOD, CAT, NR activities and Pn treated with 16.7 mg/L ALA were higher than that of the control (CK0). POD, MDA, GOGAT activities in S2 plants treated with 25.0 mg/L ALA were the highest among all treatments. Thus, our results showed that the optimal concentration of ALA (16.7 ~ 25.0 mmol/L) increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which in turn helps to abate the damage caused by salt stress in I. indigotica seedlings. Furthermore, ALA also results in an increase in chlorophyll content, Pn and the activities of GOGAT and NR.     

氯化胆碱对盐胁迫黄瓜幼苗渗透调节物质及活性氧代谢系统的影响

以盐敏感型黄瓜品种津春4号为材料,采用水培方法研究了叶面喷施不同浓度(0.5、1.0和1.5 mmol·L-1)氯化胆碱(CC)对NaCl胁迫(75 mmol·L-1)下黄瓜幼苗鲜重、叶片叶绿素、渗透调节物质含量及活性氧代谢系统的影响.结果表明:(1)单独CC处理可提高黄瓜叶片的叶绿素、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)与过氧化物酶(POD)活性,降低O2·-产生速率,但对植株鲜重及超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)活性影响不大;(2)NaCl胁迫处理增加了黄瓜幼苗叶片中可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,增强了SOD、POD和CAT活性,提高了O2·-产生速率及丙二醛(MDA)的含量,但同时降低了叶绿素含量与植株鲜重;(3)盐胁迫前CC预处理可缓解黄瓜幼苗叶绿素含量和植株鲜重的下降、以及MDA含量和O2·-产生速率的上升趋势,且进一步提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片中SOD、POD和CAT活性.因此,适宜浓度的氯化胆碱可显著提高盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片的抗氧化酶活性,提高清除活性氧的能力,缓解盐胁迫对黄瓜幼苗细胞膜的伤害,增强黄瓜幼苗的耐盐性.     

镉胁迫对鸡冠花种子萌发及幼苗生理生化特性的影响

采用水培法和盆栽法测定分析不同浓度Cd(0、50、100、150、200 mg/L)胁迫对鸡冠花种子萌发、幼苗生物量、叶片光合色素、渗透调节物质(可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、脯氨酸)、丙二醛(MDA)、低分子巯基化合物(GSH、GSSG、Cys、NPT)含量以及抗氧化酶 (SOD、POD、CAT、APX)活性的影响,探讨鸡冠花耐受Cd胁迫的能力及其生理机制,为植物解毒机制提供基础资料。结果显示：(1)鸡冠花种子的发芽势、发芽率和发芽指数在低浓度Cd处理下提高,而活力指数、根长及苗长在各浓度Cd胁迫下均不同程度降低,以上指标均在低浓度(50、100 mg/L)Cd胁迫下受到显著抑制,且根长受抑制程度显著高于苗长;幼苗生物量(整株鲜重、地上部分鲜重及地下部分鲜重)在200 mg/L Cd胁迫时受到显著抑制,较对照分别下降了61.9%、58.4%和72.7%;根冠比及主根长虽未受到显著影响,但总体呈现降低趋势。(2)鸡冠花幼苗叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量在100~200 mg/L Cd胁迫下均显著降低,叶片可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量在Cd胁迫下总体呈升高趋势,并分别在50、150、200 mg/L时显著升高。(3)鸡冠花幼苗叶片各抗氧化酶活性在Cd胁迫下呈不同变化趋势,POD和APX活性在各浓度Cd胁迫分别增加23.1%~304.2%和160.0%~280.0%;SOD活性在各浓度Cd胁迫均受到抑制,但仅在150 mg/L时显著降低43.2%;CAT活性在50~150 mg/L Cd胁迫下显著增强了46.6%~66.5%,但在200 mg/L Cd胁迫却显著降低59.5%。(4)高浓度(200 mg/L)Cd胁迫下鸡冠花幼苗叶片巯基化合物GSH、GSSG、Cys、NPT含量分别比对照上升了53.2%、164.2%、53.9%和0.79%,而GSH/GSSG比值显著降低。研究发现,鸡冠花种子萌发期和幼苗期对Cd胁迫均具有一定的耐受力,但高浓度Cd胁迫仍致使幼苗部分抗氧化酶活性降低,ROS过量积累,引起膜脂过氧化程度加深,其产物MDA含量逐渐升高;Cd胁迫促进低分子巯基化合物含量呈不同幅度的增加,但GSH/GSSG比值下降,细胞内氧化还原反应(Redox)受到抑制,导致幼苗正常生长代谢受阻,生物量持续降低。     

Exogenous spermidine and spermine enhance cadmium tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potamogeton malaianus</Emphasis>

In order to investigate the effects of spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) on cadmium stress, the content of chlorophyll, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble protein and proline, the rate of O₂^·− generation, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR)) in Potamogeton malaianus Miq. were measured. Exogenous application of Spd or Spm significantly enhanced the level of proline, retarded the loss of chlorophyll, enhanced photosynthesis, decreased the rate of O₂^·− generation and H₂O₂ content, and prevented Cd-induced lipid peroxidation. Spd and Spm also effectively maintained the balance of antioxidant enzyme activities under Cd stress; however, GR activity was found to increase only slightly in response to polyamines (PAs). The antioxidant systems, which were modified by PAs, were able to moderate the radical-scavenging system and to lessen in this way the oxidative stress. These results suggest that both Spd and Spm can enhance Cd tolerance of P. malaianus.     

Protective effects of complementary Ca2+ on low-light-induced oxidative damage in tall fescue

Low-light (LL) intensity is a primary abiotic stressor that negatively influences turf grass quality. In the present experiment, we studied the effect of exogenous Ca²⁺ (0, 10, 50, 100, and 200 mM) on the antioxidant system, the accumulation of MDA and proline, the content of photosynthetic pigments in plant leaves in order to investigate whether exogenous Ca²⁺ treatment improves LL tolerance in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). We have found that LL significantly reduced a number of growth parameters (plant height, leaf width, leaf fresh weight, root fresh weight, leaf dry weight, and root dry weight), chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b contents, and carotenoid (Car) levels, while considerably enhancing electrolyte leakage (EL), MDA accumulation, calcium (Ca²⁺) concentration, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide radical (O ₂ ^·? ). Moreover, LL significantly induced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), and slightly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in tall fescue leaves. In contrast, POD and SOD activities declined considerably while CAT activity significantly increased in plant roots under LL stress. The application of 50 mM Ca²⁺ significantly improved the aforementioned growth parameters, the content of photosynthetic pigments, and further enhanced the activities of POD, SOD, and CAT, but decreased electrolyte leakage and MDA and H₂O₂ levels in the leaves and roots of tall fescue under LL stress. These results suggest that Ca²⁺ is likely involved in a resistance to LL by regulating antioxidant enzyme action in tall fescue leaves and roots.     

Cadmium induced oxidative stress and biochemical responses in cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nostoc muscorum</Emphasis>

The present study deals with the growth, photosynthesis, oxidative stress and heavy metal accumulation ability of Nostoc muscorum exposed to different levels (2, 4, 8, 16, 20 μM) of cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Growth and photosynthetic pigments i.e., chlorophyll a, carotenoids and phycocyanin were significantly affected by cadmium exposure and inhibition was found to be dose dependent. ¹⁴C-fixation appeared to be more sensitive to Cd than whole cell oxygen evolution. Significant accumulation of Cd in the cells of N. muscorum was noticed after 1 and 2 h of exposure and the accumulation rate was dose and time dependent. Furthermore, the levels of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were found significantly increased by cadmium exposure which in turn accelerated the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and protein and DNA damage. The selected dose of Cd (20 μM) showed the induction of new polypeptide of ~23.24 kD and the loss of ~37.84 kD and ~69.63 kD whereas the remaining bands were inhibited as compared to control. Significant DNA fragmentation which is a hallmark of programmed cell death (PCD) was also observed in the cells treated with 20 μM of Cd for 48 h. The decrease in proline and total phenol content at 8 and 16 μM suggest that the cells of N. muscorum were not able to mitigate the oxidative stress induced by cadmium exposure. Similarly, the decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) also indicates the failure of the antioxidant defense system of N. muscorum to survive at higher concentration (8 and 16 μM) of cadmium.     

过表达NtMYB4a基因增强烟草抗旱能力

为探究转录因子NtMYB4a参与调控烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)抵抗干旱胁迫的能力,以NtMYB4a过表达株系(OE)、敲除株系(KO)和野生型(WT)为材料,通过盆栽实验模拟自然干旱胁迫,对比分析三个株系在干旱胁迫0、2、4、6、8 d和复水2 d后的光合特征、根系活力、叶绿素、脯氨酸(Pro)和丙二醛(MDA)含量以及抗氧化酶活性等指标。结果表明,OE株系的净光合速率(Pn)、根系活力、叶绿素含量、Pro含量以及SOD、POD和CAT活性均显著高于WT株系,而蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、MDA含量则显著低于WT株系;KO株系多数时期Pn、根系活力、叶绿素含量、Pro含量及SOD、POD和CAT活性显著低于WT株系,Tr、Gs、MDA含量则显著高于WT株系。因此,超表达NtMYB4a可能通过提高烟草的光合能力、根系活力和抗氧化酶活性,减少细胞膜损伤来提高烟苗抗旱性。     

Comparative study of alleviating effects of GSH, Se and Zn under combined contamination of cadmium and chromium in rice (Oryza sativa)

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the ameliorative effects of separate or combined application of exogenous glutathione (GSH), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) upon 20 μM cadmium (Cd) plus 20 μM chromium (Cr) heavy metal stress (HM) in rice seedlings. The results showed that HM caused a marked reduction in seedling height, chlorophyll content (SPAD) and biomass, and activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves and H⁺-ATPase in roots/leaves, but elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) activities in leaves with elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation both in leaves and roots over the control. The best mitigation effect was recorded in HM+GSH+Zn and HM+GSH (addition of GSH+Zn and GSH to HM solution), which greatly alleviated HM-induced growth inhibition and oxidative stress. Compared with HM alone, HM+GSH and HM+GSH+Zn markedly reduced Cr uptake and translocation but not affected Cd concentration; improved H⁺-ATPase activity and Fe, Zn, Mn uptake and translocation, and repressed MDA accumulation. Meanwhile exogenous GSH and GSH+Zn counteracted HM-induced response of antioxidant enzymes, via suppressing HM-induced dramatic increase of root/leaf SOD and leaf POD activities, and elevating stress-depressed leaf APX and leaf/root CAT activities.     

The Regulation of Exogenous Jasmonic Acid on UV-B Stress Tolerance in Wheat

Enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280?C320?nm) is recognized as one of the environmental stress factors that cannot be neglected. Jasmonic acid (JA) is an important signaling molecule in a plant??s defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. To determine the role of exogenous JA in the resistance of wheat to stress from UV-B radiation, wheat seedlings were exposed to 0.9?kJ?m^?2?h^?1 UV-B radiation for 12?h after pretreatment with 1 and 2.5?mM JA, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), the content of UV-B absorbing compounds, photosynthetic pigments, and proline and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were measured. The results of two-way ANOVA illustrated that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), MDA level, anthocyanin and carotenoid (Car) content, and almost all chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were significantly affected by UV-B, JA, and UV-B?×?JA (P?<?0.05) [the maximal efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry (F _v/F _m) was not affected significantly by UV-B radiation]. Duncan??s multiple-range tests demonstrated that UV-B stress induced a significant reduction in plant photosystem II (PSII) function and SOD activity and an increased level of membrane lipid peroxidation, indicative of the deleterious effect of UV-B radiation on wheat. JA pretreatment obviously mitigated the detrimental effect of UV-B on PSII function by increasing F _v/F _m, reaction centers?? excitation energy capture efficiency (F _v??/F _m??), effective photosystem II quantum yield (??PSII), and photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR), and by decreasing nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of wheat seedlings. Moreover, the activity of SOD and the content of proline and anthocyanin were provoked by exogenous JA. However, the MDA level was increased and Car content was decreased by exogenous JA with or without the presence of supplementary UV-B, whereas the contents of chlorophyll and flavonoids and related phenolics were not affected by exogenous JA. Meanwhile, exogenous JA resulted in a decrease of CAT and POD activities under UV-B radiation stress. These results partly confirm the hypothesis that exogenous JA could counteract the negative effects of UV-B stress on wheat seedlings to some extent.