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Modification of chromium (VI) phytotoxicity by exogenous gibberellic acid application in Pisum sativum (L.) seedlings

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Abstract

Effects of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA; 10 and 100 μM) application on growth, protein and nitrogen contents, ammonium (NH4 +) content, enzymes of nitrogen assimilation and antioxidant system in pea seedlings were investigated under chromium (VI) phytotoxicity (Cr VI; 50, 100 and 250 μM). Exposure of pea seedlings to Cr and 100 μM GA resulted in decreased seed germination, fresh and dry weight and length of root and shoot, and protein and nitrogen contents compared to control. Compared to control, Cr and 100 μM GA led to the significant alteration in nitrogen assimilation in pea. These treatments decreased root and shoot nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamine 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) activities (except 50 μM Cr alone for GOGAT) while glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity and NH4 + content increased. Compared to control, the root and shoot activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased (except APX activity at 250 μM Cr + 100 μM GA) while catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activities were decreased (except GR at 100 μM GA alone) following exposure of Cr and 100 μM GA. Total ascorbate and total glutathione in root and shoot decreased by the treatments of Cr and 100 μM GA while their levels were increased by the application of 10 μM GA compared to Cr treatments alone. It has been reported that application of 10 μM GA together with Cr alleviated inhibited levels of growth, nitrogen assimilation and antioxidant system compared to Cr treatments alone. This study showed that application of 10 μM GA counteracts some of the adverse effects of Cr phytotoxicity with the increased levels of antioxidants and sustained activities of enzymes of nitrogen assimilation; however, 100 μM GA showed apparently reverse effect under Cr phytotoxicity.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

DHAR:

Dehydroascorbate reductase

GDH:

Glutamate dehydrogenase

GOGAT:

Glutamine 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase

GR:

Glutathione reductase

GS:

Glutamine synthetase

NR:

Nitrate reductase

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank The Head, Department of Plant Science, MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, India for providing necessary laboratory facilities to carry out this work. We are also thankful to UGC, India for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Science, MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, 243006, India

    Savita Gangwar & Jagat Narayan Maurya

  2. Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India

    Vijay Pratap Singh & Prabhat Kumar Srivastava

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  1. Savita Gangwar
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  2. Vijay Pratap Singh
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  3. Prabhat Kumar Srivastava
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  4. Jagat Narayan Maurya
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Correspondence to Savita Gangwar.

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Communicated by G. Klobus.

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Gangwar, S., Singh, V.P., Srivastava, P.K. et al. Modification of chromium (VI) phytotoxicity by exogenous gibberellic acid application in Pisum sativum (L.) seedlings. Acta Physiol Plant 33, 1385–1397 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0672-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0672-x

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