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Wrack Composed by Fucus spp, Ascophyllum nodosum and Pelvetia canaliculata Limits Metal Uptake and Restores the Redox Homeostasis of Barley Plants Grown in Cu-Contaminated Soils

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Abstract

Since metal contamination compromises crop growth and food safety, eco-friendly responses to prevent this are needed. This study provided an integrative evaluation of the potential of wrack (macroalgae debris) to increase the tolerance of Hordeum vulgare L. (barley plant) to copper (Cu).Plants were grown in a soil mixed with 219 mg Cu kg−1 with/without 2% (m/m) wrack for 14 days. Copper impaired all growth-related parameters. Wrack application counteracted most of these negative impacts and lowered metal accumulation in roots. Metal exposure increased reactive oxygen species content [superoxide anion (O2•−) and hydrogen peroxide [H2O2]) and lipid peroxidation degree, which was evaluated through the quantification of malondialdehyde, while co-treatment with wrack partially reverted some of these effects. The non-enzymatic antioxidant (AOX) system was mainly activated by Cu, with accumulated glutathione (GSH), ascorbate (AsA) and phenols, mostly in roots, while proline content was reduced. Wrack protective action was through a modulation of GSH and AsA redox state and enhanced ascorbate peroxidase. The results suggest wrack’s potential to alleviate Cu-induced phytotoxicity, which probably relies on the reduction of Cu-induced oxidative stress through a more efficient activity of AOX metabolites and by limiting Cu absorption and bioaccumulation, especially in roots of barley plants.

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Funding

This research was funded by GreenUPorto (UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020) and ValWrack (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029818) and PestBiocide (PCIF/GVB/0150/2018) projects. CS, MM and BS also acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e para a Tecnologia (FCT) for providing PhD scholarships (CS: SFRH/BD/115643/2016; MM: SFRH/BD/143268/2019; BS: 2020/07826/BD).

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  1. Filipa Sousa and Maria Martins have contributed equally for this research and should both be considered as first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. GreenUPorto - Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Centre & INOV4AGRO, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal

    Filipa Sousa, Maria Martins, Bruno Sousa, Cristiano Soares, Ruth Pereira & Fernanda Fidalgo

  2. CIQ‐UP, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169‐007, Porto, Portugal

    Manuel Azenha

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  1. Filipa Sousa
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Contributions

FS, MM, CS, RP and FF—conceptualization; FS, MM, BS, CS, MA—investigation; FS, MM, CS, RP—formal analysis; FF and RP—resources; FS, MM, CS—writing-original draft; FS, MM, CS, BS, FF, RP—writing—review and editing; FF and RP—supervision.

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Correspondence to Filipa Sousa.

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Sousa, F., Martins, M., Sousa, B. et al. Wrack Composed by Fucus spp, Ascophyllum nodosum and Pelvetia canaliculata Limits Metal Uptake and Restores the Redox Homeostasis of Barley Plants Grown in Cu-Contaminated Soils. J Plant Growth Regul 41, 3544–3555 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10532-x

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