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Modulation of Exogenous Glutathione in Phytochelatins and Photosynthetic Performance Against Cd Stress in the Two Rice Genotypes Differing in Cd Tolerance

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Abstract

Greenhouse hydroponic experiments were conducted using Cd-sensitive (Xiushui63) and tolerant (Bing97252) rice genotypes to evaluate genotypic differences in response of photosynthesis and phytochelatins to Cd toxicity in the presence of exogenous glutathione (GSH). Plant height, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and biomass decreased in 5 and 50 μM Cd treatments, and Cd-sensitive genotype showed more severe reduction than the tolerant one. Cadmium stress caused decrease in maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and effective PSII quantum yield [Y(II)] and increase in quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation [Y(NPQ)], with changes in Cd-sensitive genotype being more evident. Cadmium-induced phytochelatins (PCs), GSH, and cysteine accumulation was observed in roots of both genotypes, with markedly higher level in PCs and GSH on day 5 in Bing97252 compared with that measured in Xiushui63. Exogenous GSH significantly alleviated growth inhibition in Xiushui63 under 5 μM Cd and in both genotypes in 50 μM Cd. External GSH significantly increased chlorophyll content, Pn, Fv/Fm, and Y(II) of plants exposed to Cd, but decreased Y(NPQ) and the coefficient of non-photochemical quenching (qN). GSH addition significantly increased root GSH content in plants under Cd exposure (except day 5 of 50 μM Cd) and induced up-regulation in PCs of 5 μM-Cd-treated Bing97252 throughout the 15-day and Xiushui63 of 5-day exposure. The results suggest that genotypic difference in the tolerance to Cd stress was positively linked to the capacity in elevation of GSH and PCs, and that alleviation of Cd toxicity by GSH is related to significant improvement in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic performance, and root GSH levels.

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Abbreviations

Ci:

Intercellular CO2 concentration

Cys:

Cysteine

Fo, Fm, and Fv:

Initial, maximal, and variable fluorescence

Fv/Fm:

Maximum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry

Gs:

Stomatal conductance

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

PCs:

Phytochelatins

PCS:

Phytochelatin synthase

Pn:

Net photosynthetic rate

PSII:

Photosystem II

qN:

Coefficient of non-photochemical quenching

Tr:

Transpiration rate

Y(II):

Effective PSII quantum yield

Y(NPQ):

Quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Key Research Foundation of Zhejiang Bureau of Science and Technology (2009C12050). We thank Dr. Shiming Liu, from CSIRO Plant Industry of Australia, for his valuable remarks and comments to improve this manuscript. We also thank Ms. Jingqun Yuan from Analysis and Measurement Center of Zhejiang University for her excellent technical assistance with Agilent 1100 HPLC system; Ms. Jianghong Zhao and Mr. Yuanlong Li, from 985-Institute of Agrobiology and Environmental Science (985-IAES) of Zhejiang University, for their kind help with our experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Huajiachi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, People’s Republic of China

    Yue Cai, Fangbin Cao, Guoping Zhang & Feibo Wu

  2. Jiaxing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jiaxing, 314016, People’s Republic of China

    Wangda Cheng

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  1. Yue Cai
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  2. Fangbin Cao
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  3. Wangda Cheng
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  4. Guoping Zhang
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  5. Feibo Wu
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Correspondence to Feibo Wu.

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Cai, Y., Cao, F., Cheng, W. et al. Modulation of Exogenous Glutathione in Phytochelatins and Photosynthetic Performance Against Cd Stress in the Two Rice Genotypes Differing in Cd Tolerance. Biol Trace Elem Res 143, 1159–1173 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8929-1

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