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Effects of excess cadmium in soil on JIP-test parameters, hydrogen peroxide content and antioxidant activity in two maize inbreds and their hybrid

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Excessive cadmium (Cd) content in soil leads to a number of phytotoxic effects and challenges agricultural production. Aim of this study was to investigate different responses of two maize inbreds and their hybrid to an elevated Cd content in soil by measuring photosynthetic and biochemical activity and to identify a Cd tolerance mechanism. Antioxidant statusrelated parameters varied significantly between inbreds and treatments. Dry mass increased in both inbreds, but remained unchanged in hybrid. After the Cd treatment, parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence varied between inbreds and hybrid performance was similar to inbred B84. We concluded that inbred B84 is Cd-sensitive compared to Os6-2, which did not appear to be negatively affected by Cd treatment at this growth stage studied. We suspect that due to a dilution effect in the hybrid, there was no or very weak Cd stress detected by biochemical parameters, although stress was detected by chlorophyll a fluorescence.

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Abbreviations

ABS/RC:

absorption per active reaction centre

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

Car:

carotenoids

CAT:

catalase

Chl:

chlorophyll

CK:

control

DIo/RC:

dissipation per active reaction centre

DM:

dry mass

FM:

fresh mass

ET:

electron transport

ETo/ABS:

quantum yield for electron transport

ETo/RC:

electron transport per active reaction centre

ETo/TRo :

efficiency/probability for electron transport

ETo (TRo-ETo):

electron transport beyond xxxx

F0 :

minimal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fv :

variable fluorescence

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

Mo:

approximated initial slope (ms–1) of the fluorescence transient normalised on the maximal variable fluorescence Fv

PIABS :

performance index (potential) for energy conservation from exciton to the reduction of intersystem electron acceptors

POD:

peroxidase

RC/ABS:

density of reaction centres on chlorophyll a basis

RC/CSo :

density of reaction centres per excited cross section

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

Sm :

normalised total complementary area above the transient curve

TBARS:

thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances

tmax :

time (in ms) to reach the maximal fluorescence intensity Fm

TRo/ABS:

maximum quantum yield for primary photochemistry

TRo/DIo :

flux ratio trapping per dissipation

TRo/RC:

trapping per active reaction centre

VJ :

relative variable fluorescence at J step.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Institute Osijek, Department of Maize Breeding and Genetics, HR31103, Južno predgrađe 17, Osijek, Croatia

    M. Franić, V. Galić, M. Mazur & D. Šimić

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  1. M. Franić
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  2. V. Galić
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  3. M. Mazur
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  4. D. Šimić
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Correspondence to M. Franić.

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Acknowledgements: This research was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (project No. 5707: „Genetics and physiology of multiple stress tolerance in maize“).

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Franić, M., Galić, V., Mazur, M. et al. Effects of excess cadmium in soil on JIP-test parameters, hydrogen peroxide content and antioxidant activity in two maize inbreds and their hybrid. Photosynthetica 56, 660–669 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0710-7

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