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Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on cadmium toxicity, element contents and antioxidative system in perennial ryegrass

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Abstract

The effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a donor of NO) on cadmium (Cd) toxicity in ryegrass seedlings (Lolium perenne L.) were studied by investigating the symptoms, plant growth, chlorophyll content, lipid peroxidation, H+-ATPase enzyme and antioxidative enzymes. Addition of 100 μM CdCl2 caused serious chlorosis and inhibited the growth of ryegrass seedlings, and dramatically increased accumulation of Cd in both shoots and roots, furthermore, the absorption of macro and micronutrients were inhibited. Addition of 50, 100, 200 μM SNP significantly decreased the transport of Cd from roots to shoots, alleviated the inhibition of K, Ca, Mg and Fe, Cu, Zn absorption induced by Cd, reduced the toxicity symptoms and promoted the plant growth. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly increased in ryegrass seedlings exposed to Cd, and resulted in the lipid peroxidation, which was indicated by accumulated concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Addition of 50, 100, 200 μM SNP significantly decreased the level of ROS and lipid peroxidation. Activities of antioxidant enzymes also showed the same changes. Addition of 50, 100, 200 μM SNP increased activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase in ryegrass seedlings exposed to Cd. Addition of 100 μM SNP had the most significant alleviating effect against Cd toxicity while the addition of 400 μM SNP had no significant effect with Cd treatment.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

NO:

Nitric oxide

O ·−2 :

Superoxide anion radical

POD:

Peroxidase

SNP:

Sodium nitroprusside

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank English Lecturer Mr Stuart Craig MA (England, Taishan University of china, e-mail: stuartcraig269@msn.com), lecturer Xiujuan Wang (College of Foreign Languages, Shandong Agricultural University) and Doctor Hongyi Luo (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) for their critical reading and revision of the manuscript. Special acknowledgements are given to the editors and reviewers. This research work was financially supported by the Projects National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40701094) and the Projects “948” of Agriculture Ministry of China (No. 2011-G30).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, People’s Republic of China

    Quanhui Wang, Xue Liang, Yuanjie Dong, Linlin Xu, Xiuwei Zhang, Jun Hou & Zhenyi Fan

  2. Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Slow/Controlled Release Fertilizers, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Yuanjie Dong

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  1. Quanhui Wang
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Correspondence to Yuanjie Dong.

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Wang, Q., Liang, X., Dong, Y. et al. Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on cadmium toxicity, element contents and antioxidative system in perennial ryegrass. Plant Growth Regul 69, 11–20 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-012-9742-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-012-9742-y

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