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Interactive influence of arsenate and selenate on growth and nitrogen metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

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Abstract

The effect of arsenate and selenate, either alone or in combination, on plant growth and nitrogen metabolism was studied in wheat seedlings. The root-shoot elongation and the biomass production were significantly decreased with increasing arsenate concentrations. Arsenate toxicity severely affected activities of different antioxidant scavenging enzymes and oxidative stress markers in the test seedlings. The activities of nitrate and nitrite reductase were also affected resulting in reduced nitrate and nitrite contents. Glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase activities were also reduced, whereas the glutamate dehydrogenase activity was substantially increased resulting in an increased accumulation of ammonium contents in the test seedlings. Arsenate treatments also adversely affected the levels of total and soluble nitrogen contents and free amino acid contents. Combined application of arsenate with selenate in the test seedlings showed significant alterations in all parameters tested under the purview of arsenate treatment alone leading to better growth and nitrogen metabolism.

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Abbreviations

As:

Arsenic

CAT:

Catalase

EDTA:

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

Fw:

Fresh weight

GDH:

Glutamate dehydrogenase

GOGAT:

Glutamate synthase

GS:

Glutamine synthetase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

NBT:

Nitroblue tetrazolium

NEDH:

N-(1-napthyl) Ethylenediamine dihydrochloride

NiR:

Nitrite reductase

NR:

Nitrate reductase

PFD:

Photon flux density

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

Se:

Selenium

SE:

Standard error

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TCA:

Trichloroacetic acid

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported financially by a research grant obtained from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. The authors are grateful to Professor S. Mukherji, Professor of Botany (Retd.), University of Calcutta for his valuable comments during preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700019, India

    Srijita Ghosh, Jayeeta Saha & Asok K. Biswas

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  1. Srijita Ghosh
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  2. Jayeeta Saha
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  3. Asok K. Biswas
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Correspondence to Asok K. Biswas.

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Communicated by L. A. Kleczkowski.

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Ghosh, S., Saha, J. & Biswas, A.K. Interactive influence of arsenate and selenate on growth and nitrogen metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Acta Physiol Plant 35, 1873–1885 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-013-1225-x

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