Response of adenine and pyridine metabolism during germination and early seedling growth under arsenic stress in Brassica juncea

Adenine and pyridine nucleotides play vital roles in virtually all aspects of plant growth. This study analyzed the response of adenine and pyridine metabolism during germination and early seedling growth (ESG) of Brassica juncea exposed to two doses of arsenate (AsV), 100 and 250 μM, having non-significant or significant inhibitory effects, respectively, on germination and ESG. The ratio of NAD/NADP and NAD/NADH showed no significant change in control and 100 μM AsV, but increased significantly at 250 μM AsV during initial 24 h and also at 7th day. The activity of enzymes of NAD metabolism, viz. NAD kinase, NADP phosphatase, nicotinamidase and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases showed significant change mostly at 250 μM AsV. Further, significant decrease was observed in the ratio of ATP/ADP and in the activities of adenylate kinase and apyrase at 250 μM AsV at 7th day. External supply of ATP (1 mM) to 100 and 250 μM AsV significantly improved germination percentage and germination strength of the seeds as compared to AsV treatments alone. The study concludes that with the increase in concentration of AsV, the balance of NAD/NADP, NAD/NADH and ATP/ADP and the activities of enzymes of adenine and pyridine metabolism were significantly altered and that these changes may be responsible for inhibitory effects of AsV on germination and ESG.