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Protection of Artemisia annua roots and leaves against oxidative stress induced by arsenic

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The present study was conducted to examine differential responses of roots and leaves of Artemisia annua to different arsenic concentrations (50, 100, and 150 μΜ) and treatment durations (1, 3, 5, or 7 d). The values of bioconcentration factor and translocation factor calculated on the basis of total As-accumulation in roots and shoots suggested that A. annua is a good As-accumulator. Above and below ground plant biomass was enhanced at 100 μΜ As but at 150 μΜ As was significantly reduced. As-treatment caused membrane damage more in the roots than in the leaves as reflected by higher degree of lipid peroxidation in the roots than in the leaves. In response to As stress, plants activated antioxidative defense for detoxification of induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), As sequestration via phytochelatins (PCS) as well as production of a wide range of secondary metabolites. All of them were activated differently in roots and leaves. Among enzymatic antioxidants, leaves significantly elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, whereas in roots SOD, catalase, and peroxidase played significant role in ROS detoxification. Plants activated As-sequestration pathway through thiols, glutathione, and PCS and their respective genes were more induced in leaves than in roots. Further gas chromatography in tandem with mass spectroscopy analysis revealed differential modulation of secondary metabolites in leaves and roots to sustain As-stress. For example, roots synthesized linoleic acid (4.85 %) under As-treatment that probably stimulated stress-signalling pathways and in turn activated differential defense mechanisms in roots to cope up with the adverse effects of As.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

BF:

bioconcentration factor

CAT:

catalase

GC-MS:

gas chromatography in tandem with mass spectroscopy

GR:

glutathione reductase

GSH:

glutathione

PCS:

phytochelatin

POX:

peroxidase

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TBARS:

2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance

TF:

translocation factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Morphogenesis, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    A. Kumari, N. Pandey & S. Pandey-Rai

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  1. A. Kumari
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  2. N. Pandey
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  3. S. Pandey-Rai
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Correspondence to S. Pandey-Rai.

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Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-P-25/329) for financial support to carry this work. Authors acknowledge the Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility (AIRF), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, for providing a GC-MS facility.

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Kumari, A., Pandey, N. & Pandey-Rai, S. Protection of Artemisia annua roots and leaves against oxidative stress induced by arsenic. Biol Plant 61, 367–377 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-016-0686-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-016-0686-3

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