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Cadmium causes oxidative stress in mung bean by affecting the antioxidant enzyme system and ascorbate-glutathione cycle metabolism

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology volume 58, pages 92–99 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Ascorbate (AsA)-glutathione (GSH) cycle metabolism is an essential mechanism for the resistance of plants under stress conditions. In a greenhouse pot experiment, the influence of cadmium (Cd) (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg soil) on plant dry weight and leaf area, photosynthetic parameters (net photosynthetic rate (PN) and chlorophyll (Chl) content) and oxidative stress, and the possible protective role of AsA-GSH cycle metabolism was studied in two mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek.) cvs. Pusa 9531 (Cd-tolerant) and PS 16 (Cd-susceptible) at 30 days after sowing. The contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), H2O2, and the leakage of ions were the highest at 100 mg Cd/kg soil, and the effect was more pronounced in cv. PS 16 than in cv. Pusa 9531. This was concomitant with the strongest decreases in PN, plant dry weight, and leaf area. The changes in the AsA-GSH redox state and an increase in AsA-GSH-regenerating enzymes, such as glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and other antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, strongly supported over-utilization of AsA-GSH in Cd-treated plants. However, the oxidative stress caused by Cd toxicity was partially overcome by AsA-GSH-based detoxification mechanism in the two genotypes studied because an increases in lipid peroxidation (TBARS, ion leakage) and H2O2 content were accompanied by a corresponding decrease in reduced AsA and GSH pools. Thus, changes in AsA-GSH pools and the coordination between AsA-GSH-regenerating enzymes and other enzymatic antioxidants of the leaves suggest their relevance to the defense against Cd stress.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

AsA:

ascorbate (reduced)

Chl:

chlorophyll

DAS:

days after sowing

DHA:

dehydroascorbate

DHAR:

dehydroascorbate reductase

DMAB:

3-(dimethylamino)benzoic acid

DMSO:

dimethyl sulfoxide

DTNB:

5′,5′-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid

EC:

electrical conductivity

GR:

glutathione reductase

GSH:

glutathione (reduced)

GSSG:

glutathione (oxidized)

LA:

leaf area

MBTH:

3-methyl-2-benzothiazoline hydrazone

MDHA:

monodehydroascorbate

MDHAR:

monodehydroascorbate reductase

NBT:

nitroblue tetrazolium

NEM:

N′N-ethylmaleimide

PN :

net photosynthetic rate

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TBARS:

thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    N. A. Anjum & N. A. Khan

  2. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Hamdard University, New Delhi, 110062, India

    S. Umar & M. Iqbal

Authors
  1. N. A. Anjum
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  2. S. Umar
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  3. M. Iqbal
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  4. N. A. Khan
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Correspondence to N. A. Anjum.

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Anjum, N.A., Umar, S., Iqbal, M. et al. Cadmium causes oxidative stress in mung bean by affecting the antioxidant enzyme system and ascorbate-glutathione cycle metabolism. Russ J Plant Physiol 58, 92–99 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443710061019

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443710061019

Keywords

  • Vigna radiata
  • acorbate-glutathione cycle
  • cadmium
  • growth
  • oxidative stress