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Tolerance mechanisms in Cassia alata exposed to cadmium toxicity – potential use for phytoremediation

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Cadmium is often detected in areas contaminated by heavy metals and the incidence of this element in dangerous concentrations has been increasing due to anthropogenic activities. The aim of this research was to determine Cd concentrations in tissues, quantify compounds, pigments and enzymes, and to evaluate the gas exchange. Our aim was also to identify components that can modify and contribute to tolerance of Cassia alata against Cd toxicity. We used five Cd concentrations (0, 22, 44, 88, and 132 μM) to validate our hypothesis. The Cd concentrations in tissues of C. alata plants increased significantly, compared with the control treatment, in the following graduated sequence: root > leaf > stem. Progressive enhancement in glutathione (GSH) was verified in plants treated with all Cd concentrations used, when compared with treatment without Cd. Antioxidant enzyme activities presented similar patterns with progressive enhancements, being a desirable characteristic for plants with a potential to hyperaccumulate Cd. Our results suggest that C. alata plants can be used for phytoremediation programs. Their defense mechanism is based on Cd accumulation in roots, coupled with increase in GSH and the efficient activity of antioxidant enzymes that contribute to minimize the oxidative stress and consequently improve the protection of the metabolic machinery.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

AsA:

ascorbate

BCF:

bioconcentration factor

Car:

carotenoids

CAT:

catalase

Cdns :

Cd concentration in nutritive solution

Cdpt :

Cd concentration in plant tissue

Cds :

Cd concentration in the shoot

Cdr :

Cd concentration in root

Chl:

chlorophyll

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

CL50% :

contamination level linked to reduction in dry matter by 50%

CTC:

critical toxic concentration

DMC:

dry matter from the control treatment

E :

transpiration rate

EL:

electrolyte leakage

gs :

stomatal conductance

GSH:

glutathione

MDA:

malondialdehyde

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

P N /C i :

instantaneous carboxylation efficiency

POX:

guaiacol peroxidase

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TF:

translocation factor

TSP:

total soluble proteins

WUE:

water-use efficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, Pará, Brazil

    J. R. R. Silva, A. R. Fernandes, M. L. Silva Junior & C. R. C. Santos

  2. Núcleo de Pesquisa Vegetal Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Paragominas, Pará, Brazil

    A. K. S. Lobato

Authors
  1. J. R. R. Silva
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  2. A. R. Fernandes
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  3. M. L. Silva Junior
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  4. C. R. C. Santos
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  5. A. K. S. Lobato
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Correspondence to A. K. S. Lobato.

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Acknowledgements: This research was financially supported from Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisa (FAPESPA/Brazil), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq/Brazil), and Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA/Brazil) to A.R. Fernandes and A.K.S. Lobato, while J.R.R. Silva was supported by graduate scholarship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq/Brazil).(CNPq/Brazil).

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Silva, J.R.R., Fernandes, A.R., Silva Junior, M.L. et al. Tolerance mechanisms in Cassia alata exposed to cadmium toxicity – potential use for phytoremediation. Photosynthetica 56, 495–504 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0698-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0698-z

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