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Effect of 24-epibrassinolide on growth, protein content and antioxidative defense system of Brassica juncea L. subjected to cobalt ion toxicity

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Abstract

Brassica juncea L. plants were subjected to cobalt (Co) ion (0, 5 × 10−4, 10−3, 1.5 × 10−3 and 2 × 10−3 M) toxicity and were sprayed with different concentrations of 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) (0, 10−10, 10−8 and 10−6 M) at 15-day stage after sowing. They were sampled at 30 and 60 days after sowing and analyzed for growth parameters in terms of shoot length and number of leaves. Thereafter, leaves were excised and content of proteins and the activities of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) (EC 1.15.1.1) catalase (CAT) (EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) (EC 1.11.1.11), guaiacol peroxidase (POD) (EC 1.11.1.7) glutathione reductase (GR) (EC 1.6.4.2), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) (EC 1.1.5.4) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) (EC 1.8.5.1)) were analyzed. The plants exposed to cobalt ion exhibited a significant decline in growth in terms of shoot length and number of leaves. However, foliar spray treatment with 24-EBL was able to alleviate the stress generated by cobalt ion and significantly improved the above parameters. The activities of antioxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, GR, APOX, MDHAR and DHAR) and protein content were also regulated considerably in leaves of plants treated with 24-EBL alone, 10−8 M concentration being the most effective. The activities of antioxidative enzymes also increased in leaves of B. juncea plants by the application of cobalt ion to soil and consequently sprayed with 24-EBL. Similarly, the protein content was also regulated in leaves of B. juncea plants treated with 24-EBL as compared to untreated control plants, thereby revealing stress-protective properties of 24-EBL.

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Abbreviations

24-EBL:

24-Epibrassinolide

28-HBL:

28-Homobrassinolide

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

APOX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

Co:

Cobalt

Cont.:

Control

DAS:

Days after sowing

DHAR:

Dehydroascorbate reductase

FW:

Fresh weight

GR:

Glutathione reductase

MDHAR:

Monodehydroascorbate reductase

POD:

Guaiacol peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SA:

Specific activity

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

UA:

Unit activity

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Acknowledgments

Financial assistance from University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India is duly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005, India

    Priya Arora, Renu Bhardwaj & Mukesh Kumar Kanwar

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  1. Priya Arora
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  2. Renu Bhardwaj
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  3. Mukesh Kumar Kanwar
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Correspondence to Renu Bhardwaj.

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Communicated by S. Lewak.

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Arora, P., Bhardwaj, R. & Kanwar, M.K. Effect of 24-epibrassinolide on growth, protein content and antioxidative defense system of Brassica juncea L. subjected to cobalt ion toxicity. Acta Physiol Plant 34, 2007–2017 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1002-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-1002-2

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