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Effect of Pb on leaf antioxidant enzyme activities and ultrastructure of the two ecotypes of Sedum alfredii Hance

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Abstract

Hydroponic experiments were conducted to study the effect of Pb on growth, leaf antioxidant enzyme activities, and ultrastructure of the accumulating ecotype (AE) and non-accumulating ecotype (NAE) of Sedum alfredii Hance. AE was found to be more tolerant to excessive Pb levels in growth medium. Concentrations of Pb in the shoots of the AE were 1.98 times higher than those in the NAE when 0.2 mM Pb was supplied. Both chlorophyll a and b did not decrease significantly in AE plants after Pb treatment, while a significant decrease was noted in chlorophyll a and b of NAE plants treated with Pb concentrations greater than 0.05 mM. The results showed that activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were elevated in the leaves of AE under Pb stress. However in NAE, Pb-caused enhancement was noticed only in the activity of SOD while activity of CAT was declined as compared to the control plants. With increased Pb level, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly in both ecotypes of S. alfredii, indicating that Pb toxicity led to lipid peroxidation and membrane damage, but MDA content in the leaves of NAE was always higher than in AE plants. The ultrastructural analysis of the spongy mesophyll cells revealed that excessive Pb concentrations obviously damaged the cell membrane, chloroplasts, and mitochondria of both the ecotypes but damage was more severe in NAE. Although growth, leaf physiology, and ultrastructure of both the ecotypes were affected by Pb treatment, deleterious effects were more pronounced in NAE.

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Abbreviations

AE:

accumulating ecotype

ALAD:

σ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase

CAT:

catalase

Chl:

chlorophyll

CK:

control

MDA:

malondialdehyde

NAE:

non-accumulating ecotype

NBT:

nitroblue tetrazolium

OsO4 :

osmium (VIII) oxide

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

PVP:

polyvinylpyrrolidone

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TBA:

thiobarbituric acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Ministry of Education, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Huajiachi Campus, Hangzhou, 310029, China

    D. Liu, T. Q. Li, X. E. Yang, E. Islam & X. F. Jin

  2. School of Tourism and Health, Zhejiang Forestry College, Lin’an, 311300, China

    D. Liu

  3. Department of Botany, Federal Government Postgraduate College, H-8, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Q. Mahmood

Authors
  1. D. Liu
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  2. T. Q. Li
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  3. X. E. Yang
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  4. E. Islam
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  5. X. F. Jin
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  6. Q. Mahmood
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Correspondence to D. Liu.

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Liu, D., Li, T.Q., Yang, X.E. et al. Effect of Pb on leaf antioxidant enzyme activities and ultrastructure of the two ecotypes of Sedum alfredii Hance. Russ J Plant Physiol 55, 68–76 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443708010081

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443708010081

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