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Biochemical defense strategies in sterilized seedlings of Nymphoides peltatum adapted to lead stress

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Abstract

In order to study potential antioxidant defense mechanisms, the effects of increasing concentrations of lead (Pb) on polyamines (PAs), various thiols, vitamins C and E, and proline contents in sterilized seedlings of Nymphoides peltata (S.G. mel.) Kuntze were investigated after 5 days of exposure. The levels of total putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm) decreased significantly, while the ratio of (Spd + Spm)/Put first increased but then declined as the concentration of Pb increased. The trends for free, perchloric acid soluble-conjugated (PS-conjugated), and perchloric acid insoluble-bound (PIS-bound) PAs were similar to the trend seen for total PAs. Moreover, reduced glutathione (GSH), nonprotein thiols (NP-SH), phytochelatins (PCs), and vitamin C were induced at high Pb concentrations. No significant change was observed in vitamin E. An initial decline in proline content was followed by an increase as the Pb concentration rose. The reduced level of Put and elevated contents of GSH, NP-SH, PCs, vitamin C, and proline were found to be associated with antioxidant efficiency, which supports the hypothesis that they could play a significant role in the adaptation mechanisms of N. peltatum under Pb stress.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China and the Natural Sciences Research Project of Higher Learning Institution in Jiangsu Province (No. 13KJB180028).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Key Lab of Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Road, 210046, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Xuqiang Qiao, Guoxin Shi, Xiaoke Yang & Zhenzhen Zheng

  2. College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 48 Wenhui East Road, 225009, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoying Xu

  3. Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 210046, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Haiyan Yang

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  1. Xuqiang Qiao
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  2. Guoxin Shi
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  3. Xiaoke Yang
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  4. Zhenzhen Zheng
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  5. Xiaoying Xu
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  6. Haiyan Yang
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Correspondence to Guoxin Shi.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Qiao, X., Shi, G., Yang, X. et al. Biochemical defense strategies in sterilized seedlings of Nymphoides peltatum adapted to lead stress. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 8315–8322 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2717-y

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