Growth and physiological responses of Pennisetum sp. to cadmium stress under three different soils

Yang, Senlin; Zhang, Jian; Chen, Lianghua

doi:10.1007/s11356-020-11701-3

Research Article
Published: 21 November 2020

Growth and physiological responses of Pennisetum sp. to cadmium stress under three different soils

Senlin Yang¹,
Jian Zhang¹ &
Lianghua Chen¹

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 28, pages 14867–14881 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Pennisetum sp. was employed as a model species to detect the growth and physiological response to cadmium (Cd) stress at different Cd concentrations (0, 20, 50, and 100 mg kg⁻¹) in three types of soils (yellow brown soil, yellow soil, and red soil). Results showed that the growth of Pennisetum sp. was not significantly influenced by Cd in 20 mg kg⁻¹, but significantly inhibited at higher Cd concentrations in three types of soils. Besides, the higher Cd concentrations, the lower root, stem, and leaf biomass. With Cd concentration of soil increasing, Cd content of root, stem, and leaf increased. Compared with no Cd, high Cd concentrations (50 and 100 mg kg⁻¹) induced the physiological indices (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate) and biochemical indices (nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase activities) decreasing, but the concentration of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ increasing. The activity of antioxidative enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT) was disrupted and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) increasing. Pennisetum sp. could protect cells from damage and maintain normal physiological metabolism via increasing the production of soluble sugar and soluble protein, but soluble proteins and soluble sugars were limited in high concentrations of Cd (50 and 100 mg kg⁻¹). Moreover, the growth and physiological response to Cd are different in the three types of soils. The growth of Pennisetum sp. in yellow brown soil was better than that in other two soils, and the gas exchange rate, antioxidant enzyme activity, and nitrogen metabolism in yellow soil and red soil were more affected by Cd stress than that in yellow brown soil. Overall, Pennisetum sp. had certain tolerance and biosorption ability to Cd in different Cd concentrations and different types of soil. Hence, Pennisetum sp. was a suitable choice for Cd remediation, especially in yellow brown soil.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (CN) (31300513).

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Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & Rainy Area of West China Plantation Ecosystem Permanent Scientific Research Base, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
Senlin Yang, Jian Zhang & Lianghua Chen

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Senlin Yang
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Jian Zhang
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Lianghua Chen
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Senlin Yang conducted the experiments to obtain the analytical data and contributed to the manuscript. Jian Zhang modified some experimental methods and helped to collect experimental data. Lianghua Chen interpreted the results, and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lianghua Chen.

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Yang, S., Zhang, J. & Chen, L. Growth and physiological responses of Pennisetum sp. to cadmium stress under three different soils. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 14867–14881 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11701-3

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Received: 31 March 2020
Accepted: 16 November 2020
Published: 21 November 2020
Issue Date: March 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11701-3

Keywords

Heavy metal
Phytoremediation
Abiotic stress
Antioxidant enzyme
Nitrogen metabolism