Effects of cadmium on growth and antioxidant responses in Glycyrrhiza uralensis seedlings

Abstract

In the present study, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Leguminosae) seeds were germinated and grown with different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mmol/l) of cadmium acetate, in order to investigate the effects of cadmium on the growth, uptake, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities in Glycyrrhiza uralensis seedlings. Uptake of Cd in different tissues of seedlings increased with increasing Cd concentrations in the tested medium, with most accumulation in the radicles. Results suggested that increased cadmium concentrations lead to decreased shoot elongation and seedling biomass. SOD activity in the cotyledons, hypocotyls and radicles increased gradually up to 0.2, 0.1 and 0.4 mmol/l, respectively. POD activity in the cotyledons, hypocotyls and radicles concentrations increased continuously with rising cadmium concentrations up to 0.2, 0.1 and 0.1 mmol/l, respectively. CAT activity in the cotyledons, hypocotyls and radicles increased gradually with increasing cadmium concentrations up to 0.2, 0.2 and 0.1 mmol/l, respectively. PPO activity showed significant increases in the cotyledons, hypocotyls and radicles at 0.4, 0.1 and 0.2 mmol/l cadmium, respectively. A significant change of PAL activity in the cotyledons, hypocotyls and radicles was observed with increasing cadmium concentrations up to 0.2, 0.4 and 0.2 mmol/l, respectively. Results of POD isoenzymes suggested that the staining intensities of isoform patterns were consistent with the changes of the activities assayed in solutions. These results suggested that Glycyrrhiza uralensis seedlings may have a better protection against oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant enzymes and PAL activity exposed to cadmium toxicity.

Remediation of cadmium by Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) from cadmium contaminated soil: a phytoextraction study

“…The maximum amount of Cd was found in roots rather than stems and leaves of Brassica juncea. Our results contrast with those of Zheng et al, (2010) who reported that normally cadmium ions are mainly retained in the roots and only small amounts are transported to the shoots. Roots of the plant act as a barrier against heavy metal translocation and this may be a potential tolerance mechanism operating in the roots (Bonnet et al, 2010).…”

Investigation the Effects of Cadmium Chloride and Copper Sulfate on Germination and Seedling Growth of Agropyron elongatum

“…These results are coincidence to the results of Dražić et al (2006) that reported Cd decreased root and shoot of alfalfa seedling and to the results of Li et al (2005). Growth reduction under Cd toxicity conditions was also observed for several species tested, including Cucumus sativus (Abu-Muriefah, 2008), Lemna polyrrhiza (John et al, 2008) and Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Zheng et al, 2010). However Cd decreased the germination speed and percentage but it doesn't have any significant effect on them.…”

Magnetic (Fe3O4) Nanoparticles Reduce Heavy Metals Uptake and Mitigate Their Toxicity in Wheat Seedling

“…At higher concentration of Pb, the SOD decreased significantly in water hyacinth [45]. In other plants, varying changes in SOD and POD activities were observed in response to heavy metal stress [18,41,42,45,50,54,55]. An increase in the activities of the antioxidative enzyme (SOD and POD) under heavy metal stress could be attributed to the tolerance of heavy metals in plants.…”