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Ozone phytotoxicity to Panicum maximum and Cenchrus ciliaris at Indo-Gangetic plains: an assessment of antioxidative defense and growth responses

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Abstract

Two common tropical grassland species, Panicum maximum Jacq. (Guinea grass) and Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel grass) of Indo-Gangetic plains were assessed for their responses under future level of O3 (ambient +30 ppb) using open top chambers. Plants were assessed for foliar injuries, pigments, growth, biomass accumulation, histochemical localization of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant defense system and ROS scavenging activities at two stages. Foliar injuries were noticed at an early stage in P. maximum compared to C. ciliaris. Significant reductions were observed in total chlorophyll, growth and total biomass in both species. Significant increases in contents of melondialdehyde and ascorbic acid in P. maximum while total phenolics and thiols in C. ciliaris were found. Histochemical analysis showed more production of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide in leaf tissues of P. maximum compared to C. ciliaris. It can be concluded that higher level of primary antioxidants (total phenolics and thiols) along with superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase scavenged O3 effectively in C. ciliaris causing less reduction of biomass which is used as a feed for cattles. In P. maximum, more photosynthates were allocated for defense, leading to higher reduction in total biomass compared to C. ciliaris. The leaf area ratio was higher in P. maximum compared to C. ciliaris under elevated O3. The study further suggests higher susceptibility of P. maximum compared to C. ciliaris under future level of O3 exposure.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Botany and Coordinators DST-FIST, CAS in Botany, DST PURSE and ISLS, B.H.U for the field and instrumental facilities. University Grants Commission, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, New Delhi, is greatly acknowledged for providing fellowship to Tsetan Dolker. The authors were supported by Research Council of Norway through the CiXPAG (Interaction of Climate Extremes, Air Pollution and Agro-ecosystems) project (grant no. 244551). Authors are extremely thankful to the learned reviewers and editor for their valuable suggestions to improve the quality of the manuscript.

Author contributions

Experiment was conducted, data were analyzed, and manuscript was prepared by TD; Manuscript correction by AM; experiment was designed, supervised, provided necessary laboratory and technical facilities and structured the manuscript by SBA and MA.

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  1. Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Tsetan Dolker, Arideep Mukherjee, Shashi Bhushan Agrawal & Madhoolika Agrawal

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  1. Tsetan Dolker
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  2. Arideep Mukherjee
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  3. Shashi Bhushan Agrawal
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  4. Madhoolika Agrawal
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Correspondence to Madhoolika Agrawal.

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Dolker, T., Mukherjee, A., Bhushan Agrawal, S. et al. Ozone phytotoxicity to Panicum maximum and Cenchrus ciliaris at Indo-Gangetic plains: an assessment of antioxidative defense and growth responses. Ecotoxicology 28, 853–868 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-019-02088-0

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