Nitrogen supply improved plant growth and Cd translocation in maize at the silking and physiological maturity under moderate Cd stress

AbstractA hydroponic experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of potassium (K) in tomato plant growth exposed to cadmium (Cd) stress. In this work, the effects of three potassium nutrition regimes (155, 232 and 310 ppm of K) combined with Cd at different levels (0, 12 and 25 µM of CdCl2) on chlorophyll content index, root and shoot dry weights, root morphology, chlorophyll a fluorescence and translocation factor were analyzed. The results showed a negative effect of cadmium, at different concentrations, on all these parameters. However, optimization of K nutrition has shown promising results by limiting the negative effect of Cd. A positive effect of the high concentration of K (310 ppm) was observed on leaf chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a fluorescence compared to 232 and 155 ppm under Cd stress. K supply improved the electron transport at PSI side indicated by the increase in the amplitude of the I–P phase of OJIP transient. Also, K at a concentration of 310 ppm significantly reduced Cd translocation from root to shoot and improved root and shoot growth parameters in the presence of Cd. K supplementation can reduce the negative effect of Cd by improving photosynthesis and promoting chlorophyll synthesis. The optimization of nutrients composition and concentration might be a good strategy to reduce the impact of Cd on plant growth and physiology.

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Role of Two Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Remediating Cadmium-Contaminated Soil Combined with Miscanthus floridulus (Lab.)

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10050912 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 912

Author(s):

Shuming Liu ◽

Hongmei Liu ◽

Rui Chen ◽

Yong Ma ◽

Bo Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Translocation Factor ◽

Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Pgp Traits ◽

Cd Tolerance ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

Cd Translocation

Miscanthus spp. are energy plants and excellent candidates for phytoremediation approaches of metal(loid)s-contaminated soils, especially when combined with plant growth-promoting bacteria. Forty-one bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere soils and roots tissue of five dominant plants (Artemisia argyi Levl., Gladiolus gandavensis Vaniot Houtt, Boehmeria nivea L., Veronica didyma Tenore, and Miscanthus floridulus Lab.) colonizing a cadmium (Cd)-contaminated mining area (Huayuan, Hunan, China). We subsequently tested their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits (e.g., production of indole-3-acetic acid, siderophore, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase) and Cd tolerance. Among bacteria, two strains, Klebsiella michiganensis TS8 and Lelliottia jeotgali MR2, presented higher Cd tolerance and showed the best results regarding in vitro growth-promoting traits. In the subsequent pot experiments using soil spiked with 10 mg Cd·kg−1, we investigated the effects of TS8 and MR2 strains on soil Cd phytoremediation when combined with M. floridulus (Lab.). After sixty days of planting M. floridulus (Lab.), we found that TS8 increased plant height by 39.9%, dry weight of leaves by 99.1%, and the total Cd in the rhizosphere soil was reduced by 49.2%. Although MR2 had no significant effects on the efficiency of phytoremediation, it significantly enhanced the Cd translocation from the root to the aboveground tissues (translocation factor > 1). The combination of K. michiganensis TS8 and M. floridulus (Lab.) may be an effective method to remediate Cd-contaminated soils, while the inoculation of L. jeotgali MR2 may be used to enhance the phytoextraction potential of M. floridulus.

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Humic + Fulvic acid mitigated Cd adverse effects on plant growth, physiology and biochemical properties of garden cress

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-86991-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ertan Yildirim ◽

Melek Ekinci ◽

Metin Turan ◽

Güleray Ağar ◽

Atilla Dursun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Fulvic Acid ◽

Pollution Level ◽

Hydroxyl Groups ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Garden Cress ◽

Cd Uptake ◽

Fresh Leaf

AbstractCadmium (Cd) is a toxic and very mobile heavy metal that can be adsorbed and uptaken by plants in large quantities without any visible sign. Therefore, stabilization of Cd before uptake is crucial to the conservation of biodiversity and food safety. Owing to the high number of carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups in their structure, humic substances form strong bonds with heavy metals which makes them perfect stabilizing agents. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of humic and fulvic acid (HA + FA) levels (0, 3500, 5250, and 7000 mg/L) on alleviation of Cadmium (Cd) toxicity in garden cress (Lepidium sativum) contaminated with Cd (CdSO4.8H2O) (0, 100, and 200 Cd mg/kg) under greenhouse conditions. Our results showed that, Cd stress had a negative effect on the growth of garden cress, decreased leaf fresh, leaf dry, root fresh and root dry weights, leaf relative water content (LRWC), and mineral content except for Cd, and increased the membrane permeability (MP) and enzyme (CAT, SOD and POD) activity. However, the HA + FA applications decreased the adverse effects of the Cd pollution. At 200 mg/kg Cd pollution, HA + FA application at a concentration of 7000 mg/L increased the leaf fresh, leaf dry, root fresh, root dry weights, stem diameter, leaf area, chlorophyll reading value (CRV), MP, and LRWC values by 262%, 137%, 550%,133%, 92%, 104%, 34%, 537%, and 32% respectively, compared to the control. Although the highest H2O2, MDA, proline and sucrose values were obtained at 200 mg/L Cd pollution, HA + FA application at a concentration of 7000 mg/L successfully alleviated the deleterious effects of Cd stress by decreasing H2O2, MDA, proline, and sucrose values by 66%, 68%, 70%, and 56%, respectively at 200 mg/kg Cd pollution level. HA + FA application at a concentration of 7000 mg/L successfully mitigated the negative impacts of Cd pollution by enhanced N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Mn, Zn, and B by 75%, 23%, 84%, 87%, 40%, 85%, 143%, 1%, 65%, and 115%, respectively. In addition, HA + FA application at a concentration of 7000 mg/L successfully reduced Cd uptake by 95% and Cl uptake by 80%. Considering the plant growth parameters, the best results were determined when HA + FA concentration was 7000 mg/L. We have shown that, it is critical to apply a humic substance with high percentage of FA, which was 10% in this study, to mitigate the adverse effects of heavy metal stress on plant growth. In conclusion, the application of HA + FA may be suggested as an effective solution for reducing the Cd uptake of the plants by stabilizing Cd in soil and preventing translocation of Cd from the roots of plant to its shoot and leaves.

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Efficacy of Indole Acetic Acid and Exopolysaccharides-Producing Bacillus safensis Strain FN13 for Inducing Cd-Stress Tolerance and Plant Growth Promotion in Brassica juncea (L.)

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11094160 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 4160

Author(s):

Farheen Nazli ◽

Xiukang Wang ◽

Maqshoof Ahmad ◽

Azhar Hussain ◽

Bushra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Stress Tolerance ◽

Brassica Juncea ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Effective Strain ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Cd Accumulation ◽

Bacillus Safensis

Untreated wastewater used for irrigating crops is the major source of toxic heavy metals and other pollutants in soils. These heavy metals affect plant growth and deteriorate the quality of edible parts of growing plants. Phytohormone (IAA) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) producing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria can reduce the toxicity of metals by stabilizing them in soil. The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the IAA and EPS-producing rhizobacterial strains for improving growth, physiology, and antioxidant activity of Brassica juncea (L.) under Cd-stress. Results showed that Cd-stress significantly decreased the growth and physiological parameters of mustard plants. Inoculation with Cd-tolerant, IAA and EPS-producing rhizobacterial strains, however, significantly retrieved the inhibitory effects of Cd-stress on mustard growth, and physiology by up regulating antioxidant enzyme activities. Higher Cd accumulation and proline content was observed in the roots and shoot tissues upon Cd-stress in mustard plants while reduced proline and Cd accumulation was recorded upon rhizobacterial strains inoculation. Maximum decrease in proline contents (12.4%) and Cd concentration in root (26.9%) and shoot (29%) in comparison to control plants was observed due to inoculation with Bacillus safensis strain FN13. The activity of antioxidant enzymes was increased due to Cd-stress; however, the inoculation with Cd-tolerant, IAA-producing rhizobacterial strains showed a non-significant impact in the case of the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) in Brassica juncea (L.) plants under Cd-stress. Overall, Bacillus safensis strain FN13 was the most effective strain in improving the Brassica juncea (L.) growth and physiology under Cd-stress. It can be concluded, as the strain FN13 is a potential phytostabilizing biofertilizer for heavy metal contaminated soils, that it can be recommended to induce Cd-stress tolerance in crop plants.

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Role of Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO4) in Resistance to Cadmium Stress in Two Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom10121693 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1693

Author(s):

Javaria Afzal ◽

Muhammad Hamzah Saleem ◽

Fatima Batool ◽

Ali Mohamed Elyamine ◽

Muhammad Shoaib Rana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Gas Exchange ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Photosynthetic Pigments ◽

Ferrous Sulfate ◽

Oryza Sativa L ◽

Enzymatic Antioxidants ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Ultra Structure ◽

Gas Exchange Characteristics

The impact of heavy metal, i.e., cadmium (Cd), on the growth, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange characteristics, oxidative stress biomarkers, and antioxidants machinery (enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants), ions uptake, organic acids exudation, and ultra-structure of membranous bounded organelles of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes (Shan 63 and Lu 9803) were investigated with and without the exogenous application of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4). Two O. sativa genotypes were grown under different levels of CdCl2 [0 (no Cd), 50 and 100 µM] and then treated with exogenously supplemented ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) [0 (no Fe), 50 and 100 µM] for 21 days. The results revealed that Cd stress significantly (p < 0.05) affected plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange characteristics, affected antioxidant machinery, sugar contents, and ions uptake/accumulation, and destroy the ultra-structure of many membranous bounded organelles. The findings also showed that Cd toxicity induces oxidative stress biomarkers, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) initiation, and electrolyte leakage (%), which was also manifested by increasing the enzymatic antioxidants, i.e., superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds (phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin) and organic acids exudation pattern in both O. sativa genotypes. At the same time, the results also elucidated that the O. sativa genotypes Lu 9803 are more tolerant to Cd stress than Shan 63. Although, results also illustrated that the exogenous application of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) also decreased Cd toxicity in both O. sativa genotypes by increasing antioxidant capacity and thus improved the plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange characteristics, and decrease oxidative stress in the roots and shoots of O. sativa genotypes. Here, we conclude that the exogenous supplementation of FeSO4 under short-term exposure of Cd stress significantly improved plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange characteristics, regulate antioxidant defense system, and essential nutrients uptake and maintained the ultra-structure of membranous bounded organelles in O. sativa genotypes.

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Physiological Responses of Amaranthus Cruentus L. to Drought Stress Under Sufficient- and Deficient-Nitrogen Conditions

10.21203/rs.3.rs-712658/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Inês Cechin ◽

Laura Prado da Silva ◽

Elisa Teófilo Ferreira ◽

Sarah Corrêa Barrochelo ◽

Fernanda Pereira de Souza Rosa de Melo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Photosynthetic Pigments ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nitrogen Availability ◽

Leaf Nitrogen ◽

Nitrogen Supply ◽

Plant Performance ◽

In Planta ◽

Phenolic Contents

Abstract Water and nitrogen availability are environmental factors that can impair plant growth, and when they are combined their effects can be intensified or reduced. The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of nitrogen availability on the responses of Amaranthus cruentus’s metabolisms to water stress. The plants were cultivated in plastic pots filled with vermiculite and kept under greenhouse conditions and were watered with 70% of full strength nitrogen-free Long Ashton solution, containing 1.97 or 9.88 kg N ha−1 as ammonium nitrate, three times a week. Photosynthetic parameter were evaluated in planta and leaves were harvested for chemical analysis of proline and phenolic contents. Higher nitrogen supply increased the shoot dry matter, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, total leaf nitrogen, proline, nitrate and ammonium but reduced the concentration of flavonoids and total phenols. Water stress for 6 days did not affect dry matter, photosynthetic pigments, leaf nitrogen, ammonium or specialized metabolites but increased the proline and affected negatively the other variables. The observed interactions between nitrogen and water supply resulted in no alleviation of the negative effects of drought on amaranth. Although the increase in nitrogen supply had benefits on plant performance, it intensified the negative effect of water stress. The study shows the importance of choosing the correct level of nitrogen fertilization in order to obtain satisfactory results in terms of plant growth under drought conditions.

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Microstructural and physiological responses to cadmium stress under different nitrogen levels in Populus cathayana females and males

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/tpz115 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 30-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Miao Liu ◽

Jingwen Bi ◽

Xiucheng Liu ◽

Jieyu Kang ◽

Helena Korpelainen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Deficiency ◽

Ion Homeostasis ◽

N Availability ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Cd Accumulation ◽

N Supply ◽

Populus Cathayana ◽

N Deficiency ◽

Cellular Compartments ◽

Cd Translocation

Abstract Although increasing attention has been paid to the relationships between heavy metal and nitrogen (N) availability, the mechanism underlying adaptation to cadmium (Cd) stress in dioecious plants has been largely overlooked. This study examined Cd accumulation, translocation and allocation among tissues and cellular compartments in Populus cathayana Rehder females and males. Both leaf Cd accumulation and root-to-shoot Cd translocation were significantly greater in females than in males under a normal N supply, but they were reduced in females and enhanced in males under N deficiency. The genes related to Cd uptake and translocation, HMA2, YSL2 and ZIP2, were strongly induced by Cd stress in female roots and in males under a normal N supply. Cadmium largely accumulated in the leaf blades of females and in the leaf veins of males under a normal N supply, while the contrary was true under N deficiency. Furthermore, Cd was mainly distributed in the leaf epidermis and spongy tissues of males, and in the leaf palisade tissues of females. Nitrogen deficiency increased Cd allocation to the spongy tissues of female leaves and to the palisade tissues of males. In roots, Cd was preferentially distributed to the epidermis and cortices in both sexes, and also to the vascular tissues of females under a normal N supply but not under N deficiency. These results suggested that males possess better Cd tolerance compared with females, even under N deficiency, which is associated with their reduced root-to-shoot Cd translocation, specific Cd distribution in organic and/or cellular compartments, and enhanced antioxidation and ion homeostasis. Our study also provides new insights into engineering woody plants for phytoremediation.

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Survival Strategies of the Plant-Associated Bacterium Enterobacter sp. Strain EG16 under Cadmium Stress

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.03689-15 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 82 (6) ◽

pp. 1734-1744 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Yanmei Chen ◽

Yuanqing Chao ◽

Yaying Li ◽

Qingqi Lin ◽

Jun Bai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Response ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Growth Promotion ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Sulfur Metabolism ◽

Cadmium Stress ◽

Survival Strategies ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Content Type ◽

Energy Conserving

ABSTRACTPlant-associated bacteria are of great interest because of their potential use in phytoremediation. However, their ability to survive and promote plant growth in metal-polluted soils remains unclear. In this study, a soilborne Cd-resistant bacterium was isolated and identified asEnterobactersp. strain EG16. It tolerates high external Cd concentrations (Cd2+MIC, >250 mg liter−1) and is able to produce siderophores and the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), both of which contribute to plant growth promotion. Surface biosorption in this strain accounted for 31% of the total Cd accumulated. The potential presence of cadmium sulfide, shown by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, suggested intracellular Cd binding as a Cd response mechanism of the isolate. Cd exposure resulted in global regulation at the transcriptomic level, with the bacterium switching to an energy-conserving mode by inhibiting energy-consuming processes while increasing the production of stress-related proteins. The stress response system included increased import of sulfur and iron, which become deficient under Cd stress, and the redirection of sulfur metabolism to the maintenance of intracellular glutathione levels in response to Cd toxicity. Increased production of siderophores, responding to Cd-induced Fe deficiency, not only is involved in the Cd stress response systems of EG16 but may also play an important role in promoting plant growth as well as alleviating the Cd-induced inhibition of IAA production. The newly isolated strain EG16 may be a suitable candidate for microbially assisted phytoremediation due to its high resistance to Cd and its Cd-induced siderophore production, which is likely to contribute to plant growth promotion.

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Cadmium uptake, translocation, and redistribution affect Cd accumulation in grain of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

10.21203/rs.3.rs-22672/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yiran Cheng ◽

Xu Zhang ◽

Sha Wang ◽

Xue Xiao ◽

Jian Zeng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Common Wheat ◽

Translocation Factor ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Wheat Cultivars ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Cd Uptake ◽

Cd Accumulation ◽

Flag Leaves ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Cd Translocation

Abstract Background To study the cadmium (Cd) accumulation in wheat grain, we evaluated the grain Cd concentrations of 46 common wheat cultivars grown at two sites in Sichuan, China and selected five different grain Cd accumulators (a high-Cd accumulator ZM18, four low-Cd accumulators YM51, YM53, SM969 and CM104) to explore the physiological processes of Cd accumulation in the grain of wheat grown under varying degrees of Cd stress. Results Our results showed that the Cd concentration in grain differed among genotypes. Under low-Cd stress, the grain Cd concentration was correlated with the Cd translocation factor (TF) of roots to grain and all the Cd redistribution factors (RFs). Compared with the ZM18, the cultivars YM53 and SM969 accumulated less Cd in the grain due to low Cd redistribution from lower stems and older leaves to grain. The low-Cd accumulators YM51 and CM104 were due to low Cd transport from roots to grain, and low Cd redistribution from glumes, flag leaves, lower stems, and older leaves to grain. Under high-Cd stress, the ZM18, YM53, and SM969 accumulated significantly more Cd in the grain, root and other tissues than did YM51 and CM104. Correlation analyses showed that the grain Cd concentration of wheat under high Cd stress was positively correlated with the Cd concentration in each tissue and the TFs of roots to grains, rachis, internode 1 and flag leaves. Conclusions Cd translocation directly from roots to grain and Cd redistribution from shoots to grain determines the Cd accumulation in grain of wheat cultivars under low-Cd stress. Cd uptake by root and then synchronously transported to new shoots determined the differences of Cd accumulation in the grain of wheat cultivars under high Cd stress.

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Effect of Molybdenum on Plant Physiology and Cadmium Uptake and Translocation in Rape (Brassica napus L.) under Different Levels of Cadmium Stress

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17072355 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 2355

Author(s):

Zhangxiong Han ◽

Xuan Wei ◽

Dejun Wan ◽

Wenxiang He ◽

Xijie Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Physiology ◽

Chlorophyll Fluorescence ◽

Brassica Napus ◽

Cd Stress ◽

Brassica Napus L ◽

Cd Uptake ◽

P Values ◽

Leaf Chlorophyll ◽

Leaf Chlorophyll Fluorescence ◽

Cd Translocation

This study investigated the beneficial effect of molybdenum (Mo) application on rape plants (Brassica napus L.) grown in a soil polluted by cadmium (Cd). A pot experiment was conducted to determine how different concentrations of exogenous Mo (0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) affect plant physiology, biomass, photosynthesis, cation uptake, and Cd translocation and enrichment in rape plants under Cd stress (0.5 and 6.0 mg/kg). Under single Cd treatment, plant physiological and biochemical parameters, biomass parameters, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and macroelement uptake of rape plants decreased, while their malonaldehyde content, proline content, non-photochemical quenching coefficient, and Cd uptake significantly increased, compared to those of the control group (p-values < 0.05). High-Cd treatment resulted in much larger changes in these parameters than low-Cd treatment. Following Mo application, the accumulation of malondialdehyde and proline decreased in the leaves of Cd-stressed plants; reversely, the contents of soluble protein, soluble sugar, and chlorophyll, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, all increased compared to those of single Cd treatment (p-values < 0.05). Exogenous Mo application promoted shoot and root growth of Cd-stressed plants in terms of their length, fresh weight, and dry weight. The negative effect of Cd stress on leaf chlorophyll fluorescence was substantially mitigated by applying Mo. Exogenous Mo also improved the uptake of inorganic cations, especially potassium (K+), in Cd-stressed plants. After Mo application, Cd uptake and accumulation were inhibited and Cd tolerance was enhanced, but Cd translocation was less affected in Cd-stressed plants. The mitigation effect of Mo on Cd stress in rape was achieved through the immobilization of soil Cd to reduce plant uptake, and improvement of plant physiological properties to enhance Cd tolerance. In conclusion, exogenous Mo can effectively reduce Cd toxicity to rape and the optimal Mo concentration was 100 mg/kg under the experimental conditions.

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