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Calcium invigorates the cadmium-stressed Brassica napus L. plants by strengthening their photosynthetic system

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Abstract

Introduction

Cadmium (Cd) in plants interrupts numerous metabolic processes and reduces the water and nutrient uptake that cause chlorosis, growth retardation, and ultimately plant death. Response of Brassica napus L. to calcium (Ca) enrichment in growth medium for reducing Cd toxicity stress by strengthening the photosynthesis organelles and their functionality was explored in this study.

Materials and methods

B. napus seedlings of two cultivars (ZS 758 and ZS 72) were exposed to Cd toxicity at 500 μM in hydroponics, and it was ameliorated with Ca at 2.0 mM. The study included determinations and evaluations pertaining to physiological attributes of plant growth, chlorophyll, and photosynthesis.

Results and discussion

Cadmium stress significantly depressed the seedling growth and reduced photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductivity (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr). Further, Cd toxicity markedly decreased the electron transport rate of PSII, effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII [Y(II)], photosynthetic active radiation, coefficient of photochemical quenching (qP), and chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio (RFd). Addition of Ca in Cd-stressed plants antagonized the toxicity effects on all the above-mentioned attributes. Calcium amendment also reversed the Cd stress-induced increase in intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and non-photochemical quenching, and countered the Cd accumulation in seedlings.

Conclusion

This study suggests that Ca2+ in the proximity of plasma membrane is proficient in alleviating Cd toxicity by reducing the cell-surface negativity and competing for Cd2+ ion influx. Consequently, both the plant growth and activity of diurnal photosynthetic system remain the least altered under Cd-provoked toxicity stress.

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Abbreviations

Ca:

Calcium

Cd:

Cadmium

Ci:

Intercellular CO2 concentration

ETR:

Electron transport rate of PSII

Gs:

Stomatal conductivity

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching

PAR:

Photosynthetic active radiation

Pn:

Photosynthetic rate

PSII:

Photosystem II

qP:

Coefficient of photochemical quenching

RFd :

Chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio

Tr:

Transpiration rate

Y(II):

Effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII

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Acknowledgements

This work was sponsored by the National Key Science and Technology Supporting Program of China (2010BAD01B04), National Natural Science Foundation of China (30871652 and 31071698), Industry Technology System of Rapeseed in China (nycytx-005), and Special Program for Doctoral Discipline of the China Ministry of Education (20090101110102). The experiment was performed in the Agricultural Experiment Station, Zhejiang University. We thank Jianghong Zhao of 985-Institute of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences of Zhejiang University, for her assistance during the experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Crop Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China

    Guanglong Wan, Ullah Najeeb, Muhammad S. Naeem & Weijun Zhou

  2. Crop Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan

    Ullah Najeeb

  3. Department of Soil Science, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan

    Ghulam Jilani

  4. Department of Agronomy, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan

    Muhammad S. Naeem

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  1. Guanglong Wan
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  2. Ullah Najeeb
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  3. Ghulam Jilani
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  4. Muhammad S. Naeem
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  5. Weijun Zhou
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Correspondence to Ghulam Jilani or Weijun Zhou.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Wan, G., Najeeb, U., Jilani, G. et al. Calcium invigorates the cadmium-stressed Brassica napus L. plants by strengthening their photosynthetic system. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 1478–1486 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0509-1

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