Abstract
The effects of cadmium (Cd) and/or paraquat (PQ) toxicity on photosynthesis in maize leaves were examined by measurement of gas exchange and chlorophyll content in hydroponically cultured plants. It was found that growth rate was distinctly influenced only by 100 µM Cd treatment. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b decreased along with the increase of Cd concentration, while PQ spraying, alone and combined with Cd, increased chlorophyll a content on the third and seventh experimental days. Generally, carotenoid content increased in response to Cd and PQ and reached the highest levels at 100 µM Cd. Rate of photosynthesis in maize decreased after Cd treatment. CO2 assimilation was approximately 60% reduced at 50 µM Cd and 70% reduced in the presence of 100 µM Cd. PQ toxicity was partly overcome after the third day of exposure. Transpiration and stomatal conductance in maize leaves decreased on the third day along with Cd concentration and PQ spraying, except for the 25-µM Cd-treated plants. On the tenth day, the 25-µM Cd-treated plants and those from PQ-treated variants showed an increase of transpiration and stomatal conductance. Maize exhibited an ability to accumulate Cd in high quantities, especially in the roots—over 4,500 mg Cd/kg dry weight.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ananieva, K., Alexieva, V., & Popova, L. (2002). Treatment with salicylic acid decreases the effects of paraquat on photosynthesis. Journal of Plant Physiology, 159(7), 685–693.
Arnon, D. (1949). Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Journal of Plant Physiology, 24, 1–15.
Atal, N., Saradhi, P., & Mohanty, P. (1991). Inhibition of chloroplast photochemical reactions by treatments of wheat seedlings with low concentration of cadmium: Analysis of electron transport activities and changes in fluorescence yield. Plant and Cell Physiology, 32, 943–951.
Baryla, A., Carrier, P., Franck, F., Coulomb, C., Sahut, C., & Havaux, M. (2001). Leaf chlorosis in oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus) grown on cadmium-polluted soil: Causes consequences for photosynthesis and growth. Planta, 212, 696–709.
Das, P., Samantaray, S., & Rout, G. (1998). Studies on cadmium toxicity inplants: A review. Environmental Pollution, 96, 29–36.
Díaz, M., Chueca, A., & Julio, G. (1980). Effect of some heterocyclic herbicides on CO2 assimilation by spinach chloroplasts. Physiologia Plantarum, 49(2), 188–192.
Ekmeksi, J., & Terzioglu, S. (2005). Effects of oxidative stress induced by paraquat on wild and cultivated wheats. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 83(2–3), 69–81.
Greger, M., & Ögren, E. (1991). Direct and indirect effects of Cd2+ on photosynthesis in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Physiologia Plantarum, 83(1), 129–135.
Haag-Kerwer, A., Schafer, H., Heiss, S., Walter, C., & Rausch, T. (1999). Cadmium exposure in Brassica juncea causes a decline in transpiration rate and leaf expansion without effect on photosynthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 50(341), 1827–1835.
Jansen, M., Shaaltiel, Y., Kazzes, D., Canaani, O., Malkin, S., & Gressel, J. (1989). Increased tolerance to photoinhibitory light in paraquat-resistant Conyza bonariensis measured by photoacoustic spectroscopy and 14CO2-fixation. Plant Physiology, 91, 1174–1178.
Lai, Q., Bao, Z., Zhu, Z., Mao, B., & Qian, Q. (2007). Paraquat resistance in leaf discs of PSAG12-IPT modified gerbera is related to the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and dehydroascorbate reductase. Agricultural Sciences in China, 6(4), 446–451.
Leakey, A., Uribelarrea, M., Ainsworth, E., Naidu, S., Rogers, A., Ort, D., et al. (2006). Photosynthesis, productivity, and yield of maize are not affected by open-air elevation of CO2 concentration in the absence of drought. Plant Physiology, 140, 782–790.
Leita, L., Marchiol, L., Peressotti, A., delle Vedove, G., & Zerbi, G. (1995). Transpiration dynamics in cadmium-treated soybean (Glycine max L.) plants. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 175(3), 153–156.
Malan, G., Greyling, M., & Gressel, J. (1990). Correlation between Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and gluthatione reductase, and environmental and xenobiotic stress tolerance in maize inbreds. Plant Science, 69, 157–166.
Mendelssohn, I., McKee, K., & Kong, T. (2001). A comparison of physiological indicators of sublethal cadmium stress in wetland plants. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 46, 263–275.
Pietrini, F., Iannelli, M., Pasqualini, S., & Massacci, A. (2003). Interaction of cadmium with glutathione and photosynthesis in developing leaves and chloroplasts of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel. Plant Physiology, 133, 830–837.
Prasad, T. (1996). Mechanisms of chilling-induced oxidative stress injury and tolerance in developing maize seedlings: Changes in antioxidant system, oxidation of proteins and lipids, and proteases activities. Plant Journal, 10, 1017–1026.
Robinson, B., Brooks, R., Howden, A., Kirkman, J., & Gregg, P. (1997). The potential of the high biomass nickel hyperaccumulator Berkheya codii for phytoremediation and phytomining. Journal of Geochemical Exploitation, 60, 115–126.
Romero-Puertas, M., Palma, J., Gomez, M., Del Rio, L., & Sandalio, L. (2002). Cadmium causes the oxidative modification of proteins in pea plants. Plant, Cell & Environment, 25, 677–686.
Schutzendubel, A., Schwanz, P., Teichmann, T., Gross, K., Langenfeld-Heyser, R., Godbold, D. L., et al. (2001). Cadmium-induced changes in antioxidative systems, hydrogen peroxide content, and differentiation in Scots pine roots. Plant Physiol, 127, 887–898.
Stochs, S., & Bagchi, D. (1995). Oxidative mechanism in the toxicity of metal ions. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 18, 321–336.
Shaaltiel, Y., Glazer, A., Bocion, P., & Gressel, J. (1988). Cross tolerance to herbicidal and environmental oxidants of plant biotypes tolerant to paraquat, sulfur dioxide and ozone. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 31, 13–23.
Uzunova, A., Chaneva, G., & Nachev, I. (2008). Antioxidant defence in the leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) under cadmium and paraquat stress. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 9(3), 592–597.
Acknowledgments
The research was supported by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, grant UB-01/2004.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chaneva, G., Parvanova, P., Tzvetkova, N. et al. Photosynthetic Response of Maize Plants Against Cadmium and Paraquat Impact. Water Air Soil Pollut 208, 287–293 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0166-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0166-x