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Cadmium stress induces changes in the lipid composition and biosynthesis in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaves

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Abstract

The effects of cadmium (Cd) stress on lipid composition and biosynthesis were investigated in young leaves of ten-day-old tomato seedlings (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Ibiza F1). Cd was found to be mainly accumulated in roots, but a severe inhibition of biomass production occurred in leaves, even at its low concentration (1.0 μM). Seven days after Cd treatment, the membrane lipids were extracted and separated on silica-gel thin layer chromatography (TLC). Fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by FID-GC on a capillary column. Our results showed that Cd stress decreased the quantities of all lipids classes (phospholipids, galactolipids and neutral lipids). Likewise, there was also a decline in the levels of tri-unsaturated fatty acids, such as linolenic (C18:3) and hexadecatrienoic (C16:3) acids. The linolenic acid (C18:3) decreased in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and all phospholipids, while hexadecatrienoinic acid (C16:3) declined mainly in MGDG. Moreover, Cd at high concentrations (25.0 and 50.0 μM) significantly enhanced the levels of lipid peroxides. Radiolabelling experiments were carried out by laying down microdroplets of [1-14C]acetate–a major precursor of lipid biosynthesis–on attached leaves of the control and Cd-treated plants. After incubation for 1, 2, 12 and 24 h, the leaves were harvested and lipids extracted and analysed. Cd stress was found to decrease the incorporation of [1-14C]acetate in total lipids. The biosynthesis of total lipids was altered with 25.0 and 50.0 μM Cd. The decline in the incorporation of [1-14C]acetate due to Cd stress was observed in all lipid classes. There was also a substantial decline in the incorporation of [1-14C]acetate in tri-unsaturated fatty acids. The results indicate that Cd treatment induces an oxidative stress by inhibiting the chloroplastic and extrachloroplastic lipid-biosynthesis pathways as well as lipid peroxidation.

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Abbreviations

DGDG :

Digalactosyldiacylglycerol

DM :

Dry mass

GL:

Galactolipids

LOX:

Lipoxygenase

MGDG:

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol

NL:

Neutral lipids

PA:

Phosphatidic acid

PC:

Phosphatidylcholine

PE:

Phosphatidylethanolamine

PG:

Phosphatidylglycerol

PI:

Phosphatidylinositol

PL:

Phospholipids

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances

TL:

Total lipids

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Recherche Nutrition et Métabolisme Azotés et Protéines de Stress (UR 99/09-20), Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire, 2092, Tunis El Manar, Tunisie, Tunisia

    Wided Ben Ammar & Fatma Jemal

  2. Laboratoire Caractérisation et Qualité de l’Huile d’Olive, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj Cedria, B.P. 901, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisie, Tunisia

    Issam Nouairi & Mokhtar Zarrouk

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  1. Wided Ben Ammar
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  2. Issam Nouairi
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  3. Mokhtar Zarrouk
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  4. Fatma Jemal
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Correspondence to Wided Ben Ammar.

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Ben Ammar, W., Nouairi, I., Zarrouk, M. et al. Cadmium stress induces changes in the lipid composition and biosynthesis in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaves. Plant Growth Regul 53, 75–85 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-007-9203-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-007-9203-1

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