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Impact of Long-Term Copper Exposure on Growth, Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Defence System and Artemisinin Biosynthesis in Soil-Grown Artemisia annua Genotypes

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Abstract

The effects of copper (Cu) exposure on growth and physiological characteristics of three genotypes (CN-12, Cim-Sanjeevani and Cim-Arogya) of Artemisia annua L. were elucidated. The plants were grown under naturally illuminated greenhouse conditions and were harvested after physiological maturity (120 days after sowing). Results suggest that 10 mg kg− 1 Cu significantly enhanced the growth and physiological parameters like enzyme activities, photosynthesis. At higher concentrations, Cu inhibited the growth, biomass, photosynthetic parameters; while increased lipid peroxidation in all the genotypes. The activities of antioxidant enzymes viz. catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were upregulated by the Cu stress. The highest applied concentration of Cu (60 mg kg− 1) proved most toxic for plants. Moreover, artemisinin content was increased upto 10 mg kg− 1 of Cu treatment, compared with control, however, the artemisinin accumulation decreased at higher doses of Cu in all the genotypes. On the basis of studied parameters, Cim-Arogya was found to be most tolerant among all for Cu toxicity.

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Acknowledgements

Ms. Andleeb Zehra and Ms. Sadaf Choudhary would like to thank University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India for providing financial support in the form of Non-NET Fellowship to conduct this research.

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  1. Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202 002, India

    Andleeb Zehra, Sadaf Choudhary, Mohammad Mukarram, M. Naeem, M. Masroor A. Khan & Tariq Aftab

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  1. Andleeb Zehra
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  2. Sadaf Choudhary
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  3. Mohammad Mukarram
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Zehra, A., Choudhary, S., Mukarram, M. et al. Impact of Long-Term Copper Exposure on Growth, Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Defence System and Artemisinin Biosynthesis in Soil-Grown Artemisia annua Genotypes. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 104, 609–618 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02812-1

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