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Effect of chromium and nitrogen form on photosynthesis and anti-oxidative system in barley

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The effect of nitrogen forms on photosynthesis and anti-oxidative systems of barley plants under chromium stress was studied in a hydroponic experiment. The treatments comprised three chromium concentrations (0, 75, and 100 μM) and three N forms (NH4)2SO4, urea, and Ca(NO3)2. In comparison with the urea or (NH4)2SO4 fed plants, the Ca(NO3)2 fed plants had higher net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetically active radiation utilization efficiency, variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence ratio, and the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids. Cr toxicity caused oxidative stress in all plants but the Ca(NO3)2 fed plants had the least oxidative stress. Moreover, the Ca(NO3)2 fed plants had higher activities of anti-oxidative enzymes and content of non-enzymatic antioxidants than the urea or (NH4)2SO4 fed plants. In addition, the Ca(NO3)2 fed plants had higher N and lower Cr content in all plant tissues than the urea or (NH4)2SO4 fed plants. The current results indicate that the reasonable choice of N fertilizer is important for barley production on the Cr-contaminated soils.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

ASC:

ascorbate

CAT:

catalase

ci :

intercellular CO2 concentration

E:

transpiration rate

Fv/Fm :

variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (photosynthetic efficiency)

GSH:

glutathione

GR:

glutathione reductase

gs :

stomatal conductance

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

PN :

net photosynthetic rate

POD:

guaiacol peroxidase

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TCA:

trichloroacetic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, P.R. China

    S. Ali & G. P. Zhang

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    S. Ali, M. A. Farooq, F. Abbas & S. A. Bharwana

  3. Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    M. M. Jahangir

Authors
  1. S. Ali
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  2. M. A. Farooq
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  3. M. M. Jahangir
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  4. F. Abbas
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  5. S. A. Bharwana
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  6. G. P. Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. P. Zhang.

Additional information

Acknowledgement: The project was supported by the Zhejiang Bureau of Science and Technology (2009C12050).

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Ali, S., Farooq, M.A., Jahangir, M.M. et al. Effect of chromium and nitrogen form on photosynthesis and anti-oxidative system in barley. Biol Plant 57, 758–763 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-013-0336-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-013-0336-y

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