Glutathione (GSH) plays diverse roles in the physiological processes, stress defense, growth, and development of plants. This study investigated the effects of exogenous GSH on the biochemical responses of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant levels in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Dasan) seedlings under arsenic (As) stress. As treatment inhibited growth; increased the level of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde; and enhanced the uptake of As by the roots and shoots in hydroponically grown 14-day-old seedlings. Furthermore, it reduced GSH content and GSH redox ratios, which have been correlated with the decrease in ascorbate (AsA) redox state. Whereas the exogenous application of GSH in As-treated seedlings reduced As-induced oxidative stress, improved antioxidant defense systems by maintaining antioxidant and/or redox enzyme homeostasis, and increased the AsA and GSH contents, the GSH application also increased the As translocation from the roots to the shoots. These results indicated that the increase in GSH redox state can be linked to an increase in the AsA redox ratio via the induction of the AsA–GSH cycle. Therefore, the results suggest that exogenous GSH application should be a promising approach to enhance As stress resistance in rice plants.

The role of ascorbate (AsA) in antioxidant defense system-associated resistance to cadmium (Cd) in oilseed rape plants has not yet been clearly demonstrated. The present study investigated the critical role of exogenous AsA on the physiological and biochemical responses of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant scavenging defense systems in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Tammi) seedlings exposed to Cd. Cd (10 μM) treatment led to significant reductions in plant growth; increases in the levels of superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde; and increases in Cd uptake and accumulation by the roots and shoots in hydroponically grown 10-day-old seedlings. Moreover, it reduced AsA content and AsA redox ratios, which have been correlated with reductions in glutathione (GSH) and/or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) redox status. However, exogenously applying AsA to Cd-exposed seedlings decreased Cd-induced ROS, improved antioxidant defense systems by increasing AsA, GSH, and NADPH contents, and increased Cd uptake and accumulation in both roots and shoots of the plants. These results provided evidence that the enhancement in AsA redox status can be linked to an increase in the GSH and/or NADPH redox ratios through the induction of the AsA–GSH–NADPH cycle. Thus, these results suggest that exogenous AsA application to oilseed rape seedlings under Cd stress might alleviate the overall Cd toxicity by regulating the homeostasis of the AsA–GSH–NADPH cycle, which reestablishes the steady-state cellular redox status.

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Heavy metals reduce the photosynthetic efficiency and disrupt metabolic reactions in a concentrationdependent manner. Moreover, by replacing the metal ions in metalloproteins that use essential metal ions, such as Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe, as co-factors, heavy metals ultimately lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These, in turn, cause destruction of the cell membrane through lipid peroxidation, and eventually cause the plant to necrosis. Given the aforementioned factors, this study was aimed to understand the physiological responses of rice to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) toxicity and the effect of essential metal ions on homeostasis. In order to confirm the level of physiological inhibition caused by heavy metal toxicity, hydroponically grown rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Dongjin) plants were exposed with 0-50 µM cadmium (Cd, CdCl 2 ) and arsenic (As, NaAsO 2 ) at 3-leaf stage, and then investigated malondialdehyde (MDA) contents after 7 days of the treatment. With increasing concentrations of Cd and As, the MDA content in leaf blade and root increased with a consistent trend. At 14 days after treatment with 30 µM Cd and As, plant height showed no significant difference between Cd and As, with an identical reduction. However, As caused a greater decline than Cd for shoot fresh weight, dry weight, and water content. The largest amounts of Cd and As were found in the roots and also observed a large amount of transport to the leaf sheath. Interestingly, in terms of Cd transfer to the shoot parts of the plant, it was only transported to upper leaf blades, and we did not detect any Cd in lower leaf blades. However, As was transferred to a greater level in lower leaf blades than in upper leaf blades. In the roots, Cd inhibited Zn absorption, while As inhibited Cu uptake. Furthermore, in the leaf sheath, while Cd and As treatments caused no change in Cu homeostasis, they had an antagonist effect on the absorption of Zn. Finally, in both upper and lower leaf blades, Cd and As toxicity was found to inhibit absorption of both Cu and Zn. Based on these results, it would be considered that heavy metal toxicity causes an increase in lipid peroxidation. This, in turn, leads to damage to the conductive tissue connecting the roots, leaf sheath, and leaf blades, which results in a reduction in water content and causes several physiological alterations. Furthermore, by disrupting homeostasis of the essential metal ions, Cu and Zn, this causes complete heavy metal toxicity.

In soil-to-plant transfer of heavy metals, the amount absorbed and accumulated varies depending on the environment conditions. The absorption rate of cadmium (Cd) in plants differs considerably depending on the bioavailability of Cd in the soil, while usage by various organic matters is also reported to affect absorption patterns. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the difference in the transfer of essential metal ions and Cd to various plant parts when rice straw compost was used to cultivate soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Daepung). In the two-leaf stage of soybean cultivated in a greenhouse, Cd was mixed in the soil, after which the Cd and essential metal ions contents, and physiological changes of soybean seedlings were studied on the 15th and 25th day. The Cd toxicity in the plant was reduced with the use of rice straw compost. Further, the Cd content varied with the plant part, and was higher in young leaves (3rd and 4th leaf) than in the stem. When analyzed by leaf age, the Cd transfer was highest in young leaves (3rd and 4th leaf), followed by mature leaves (1st and 2nd leaf). While there was no significant difference between plant tissues in the absorption rate of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) when rice straw compost was used against Cd toxicity, the absorption rate of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) showed a significant decline in both the control and rice straw compost treatment conditions, as well as a significant difference between leaf ages. Therefore, these results confirm that the use of rice straw compost against Cd toxicity is effective, and implies that the rate of Cd transfer in the soybean plant varies significantly with leaf age.Key words: Cadmium, Metal-ions distribution, Rice straw compost, SoybeanEffects of the application of rice straw compost on Cd concentrations in stems, mature leaves (1st, 2nd leaf), and young leaves (3rd, 4th leaf) of soybean plants grown on the Cd-contaminated soils for 15 days (A) and 25 days (B).