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Effect of exogenous abscisic acid on the level of antioxidants in Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz under lead stress

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Abstract

This study hypothesized that the positive or negative effects of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on oxidative stress caused by lead were dose dependent. The effects of different levels of ABA (2.5, 5, and 10 mg L−1) on lead toxicity in the leaves of Atractylodes macrocephala were studied by investigating plant growth, soluble sugars, proteins, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidative enzymes. Excess Pb inhibited root dry weight, root length, and the number of lateral roots, but increased shoot growth. In addition, lead stress significantly decreased the levels of chlorophyll pigments, protein, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD). Different levels of ABA significantly increased SOD, CAT, POD, and APX activities, but decreased the level of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde in nonstressed plants. Exogenous application of 2.5 mg L−1 ABA detoxified the stress-generated damages caused by Pb and also enhanced plant growth, soluble sugars, proteins, and all four antioxidant enzyme activities but reduced Pb uptake of lead-stressed plant compared to lead treatment alone. However, the toxic effects of Pb were further increased by the applications of 5 and 10 mg L−1 ABA. The levels of antioxidants caused by a low concentration of exogenous ABA might be responsible for minimizing the Pb-induced toxicity in A. macrocephala.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support was provided by the Natural Science Foundation of China (31000293, 30901146) and the Open Research Fund Program of Key Lab of Eco-Environmental Science for Yellow River Delta in Universities of Shandong (Binzhou University).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOE Laboratory of Plant–Soil Interaction and College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Jinchuang Wang

  2. Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Jinchuang Wang, Juan Chen & Kaiwen Pan

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  1. Jinchuang Wang
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  2. Juan Chen
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  3. Kaiwen Pan
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Correspondence to Jinchuang Wang.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Wang, J., Chen, J. & Pan, K. Effect of exogenous abscisic acid on the level of antioxidants in Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz under lead stress. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 1441–1449 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1048-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1048-0

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