chlorophyll-a and arsenic-acid

A green house experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of soil application of selenium (Se) in modulating metabolic changes in rice under arsenic (As) stress. Rice plants were grown over soil amended with sodium arsenate (25, 50 and 100 μM kg

Topics: Arsenates; Arsenic; Carotenoids; Chlorophyll; Edible Grain; Glutamate Synthase; Glutamine; Nitrite Reductases; Nitrogen; Nutrients; Oryza; Photosynthesis; Plant Leaves; Selenic Acid; Selenium; Soil

Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle has a great ability to accumulate large amounts of arsenic (As). We studied the influence of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), pH, and arsenite (As(III)) on As transformation and fate in the H. verticillata - medium system via orthogonal experimental design. The results showed highest plant growth was under intermediate As(III) in the medium, with Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b contents in plant diminishing after 96 h treatment. Exposure to high N, high As(III), intermediate P, and low pH in the medium, the highest total arsenic uptake by plants were 169.1 ± 5.5 μg g

Topics: Arsenates; Arsenic; Arsenites; Biodegradation, Environmental; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Hydrocharitaceae; Oxidation-Reduction

Arsenic (As) can be present naturally in groundwater from peanut fields, constituting a serious problem, as roots can accumulate and mobilize the metalloid to their edible parts. Understanding the redox changes in the legume exposed to As may help to detect potential risks to human health and recognize tolerance mechanisms. Thirty-days old peanut plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. strains (SEMIA6144 or C-145) were exposed to a realistic arsenate concentration, in order to unravel the redox response and characterize the oxidative stress indexes. Thus, root anatomy, reactive oxygen species detection by fluorescence microscopy and, ROS histochemical staining along with the NADPH oxidase activity were analyzed. Besides, photosynthetic pigments and damage to lipids and proteins were determined as oxidative stress indicators. Results showed that at 3 μM As

Topics: Arachis; Arsenates; Arsenic; Bradyrhizobium; Chlorophyll; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lipid Peroxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Plant Roots; Reactive Oxygen Species; Symbiosis

Cytokinins (CTKs) are effective in alleviating abiotic stresses on plants, but little information is available regarding the effects of CTKs on arsenic (As) accumulation and changes of chloroplast ultrastructure in plants with different As-accumulating ability. Here a hydroponic experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of different concentration of kinetin (KT, 0-40 mg/L) on growth and chloroplast ultrastructure of As hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica var. nervosa and non-hyperaccumulator Pteris ensiformis treated by 5 mg/L arsenate for 14 days. The growth parameters, As accumulation, contents of photosynthetic pigments and chloroplast ultrastructure were examined. The results showed that KT promoted the growth of two plants, and significantly increased As accumulation and translocation in P. cretica var. nervosa and P. ensiformis at 5 and 20 mg/L, respectively. Additionally, the contents of chlorophyll a and carotenoid in two plants showed no significant difference at 20 mg/L KT compared to the control. Chloroplast ultrastructure of P. cretica var. nervosa was integral with KT application. Comparatively, the swollen chloroplasts were increased, plasmolysis appeared, and chloroplast grana slice layers and stroma lamellas were clearly separated or distorted at 5 mg/L KT in P. ensiformis. The length and width of chloroplasts in P. cretica var. nervosa were significantly increased with KT addition compared to the control. However, the length of chloroplasts in P. ensiformis was significantly decreased but their width showed no significant change. Furthermore, the deterioration of chloroplast ultrastructure in P. ensiformis was ameliorated by 40 mg/L KT. These results suggested that KT increased As accumulation and was beneficial to maintain the photosynthetic pigments for a good growth of plants. Therefore, KT could maintain and reorganize the ultrastructure integrality of As-stressed chloroplasts to some extent for the two plants, especially at high concentration.

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Arsenates; Arsenic; Carotenoids; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Chloroplasts; Hydroponics; Kinetin; Photosynthesis; Plant Development; Plant Growth Regulators; Pteris; Species Specificity; Stress, Physiological

The present study evaluates the reduction of arsenate (As[V]) uptake in rice seedlings through individual and combined supplementation of phosphate (PO4(3-)) and selenite (Se[IV]) in a hydroponic condition. The toxic response in seedlings receiving As(V) manifested as inhibition in physiological parameters such as water use efficiency, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic assimilation rate, transpiration rate, photochemical quenching, and electron transport rate, along with growth. Arsenic accumulation significantly decreased with Se(IV) treatment (0.5 μg mL(-1), 1 μg mL(-1), and 2 μg mL(-1)) in a dose-dependent manner (20%, 35%, and 53%, respectively); however, it compromised the PO4(3-) level and physiological performance. The lower level of Se(IV), (0.5 μg mL(-1)), was relatively beneficial in terms of reduction in As accumulation than the higher level of Se(IV), (2 μg mL(-1)), which was rather toxic. Further, decrease in As uptake, replenished the level of PO4(3-) and physiological performance in seedlings treated with As+Se+P compared with those treated with As+Se. However, supplementation with only PO4(3-) (10 μg mL(-1) and 20 μg mL(-1)) along with As(V) was less effective in reducing As accumulation compared with As+Se. Seedlings receiving As+Se+P also exhibited lower thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and electrical conductivity levels compared with both As+Se and As+P. Among all the treatments, the activity of antioxidant enzymes was highest in plants treated with As+Se+P. Hence, the higher antioxidant enzyme activity in As+Se+P along with lower levels of TBARS, H2 O2 , and As accumulation are attributed to the competitive reduction in As uptake in the presence of Se(IV) and PO4(3-).

Topics: Antioxidants; Arsenates; Chlorophyll; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electric Conductivity; Hydroponics; Oryza; Phosphates; Photosynthesis; Seedlings; Seeds; Selenious Acid; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

The present study is aimed to investigate whether ascorbate-glutathione cycle (AsA-GSH cycle) or thiol metabolism is involved in the regulation of arsenate (As(V))-induced oxidative stress and tolerance in ridged Luffa seedlings. As(V) significantly (p < 0.05) declined the growth of Luffa seedlings which was accompanied by the enhanced accumulation of As. The enhanced accumulation of As in tissues declined total protein and nitrogen contents and photosynthesis, and increased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The enhanced levels of ROS cause damage to lipids and proteins as indicated by the increased contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive carbonyl groups (RCG). The components of AsA-GSH cycle such as ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and reduced ascorbate were downregulated, while glutathione reductase and glutathione were upregulated by As(V) stress. Thiol metabolic enzymes such as cysteine synthase, γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and glutathione synthetase, and compounds such as cysteine, glutathione, and non-protein thiols were stimulated by As(V) stress. These results suggest that thiol metabolism plays a key role in mitigating As(V)-mediated further damage to Luffa seedlings, while AsA-GSH cycle components had a little role in imparting As(V) tolerance. The present study provides information regarding the involvement of AsA-GSH cycle and thiol metabolism in imparting As(V) tolerance in Luffa. The results of this study can be utilized for As(V) toxicity management in Luffa while keeping these biochemical components into consideration.

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Arsenates; Ascorbic Acid; Chlorophyll; Glutathione; Luffa; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Oxidative Stress; Plant Proteins; Reactive Oxygen Species; Seedlings; Soil Pollutants; Sulfhydryl Compounds

Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate an effect of exogenous application of proline (Pro; 25 µM) in alleviating arsenate (As(V); 5 and 25 µM) toxicity in Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) seedlings. Exposure of As(V) declined growth of eggplant, which was coincided with an enhanced accumulation of As. However, exogenous Pro application alleviated As(V) toxicity in eggplant seedlings by reducing the accumulation of As. The fluorescence characteristics (JIP-test): φP0, Ψ0, φE0, PIABS, ABS/RC, TR0/RC, ET0/RC, DI0/RC, NPQ and qP were also affected by As(V). However, the effects of As(V) were more prominent on PIABS DI0/RC and NPQ. In Pro treated seedlings, following parameters viz. φP0, Ψ0, φE0 and PIABS were stimulated, while, energy flux parameters (ABS/RC, TR0/RC, ET0/RC and DI0/RC) were inhibited. Toxic effects of As(V) on photochemistry of photosystem II (PS II) were ameliorated by an exogenous application of Pro. Oxidative stress markers: superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (lipid peroxidation) were enhanced by As(V) exposure, however, their levels were significantly diminished by an exogenous application of Pro. Treatment of As(V) stimulated the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase except that of glutathione-S-transferase. Exogenous Pro application improved the activities of enzymatic antioxidants. The level of endogenous Pro was higher in As(V) treated as well as in Pro fed seedlings. The activity of a key enzyme of Pro biosynthesis: Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase was higher in Pro fed seedlings. The activity of Pro dehydrogenase was inhibited under As(V) stress, and its activity was minimum in case of Pro+As(V) combination. These results indicate that Pro metabolism could play a key role in regulating the accumulation of As and levels of antioxidants, which concomitantly result into a better growth of eggplant seedlings when compared to the As(V) treatments alone.

Topics: Antioxidants; Arsenates; Catalase; Chlorophyll; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lipid Peroxidation; Malondialdehyde; Oxidative Stress; Photosynthesis; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Proline; Pyrroles; Reactive Oxygen Species; Seedlings; Solanum melongena; Superoxide Dismutase

The metalloid arsenic (As) increases in agricultural soils because of anthropogenic activities and may have phytotoxic effects depending on the available concentrations. Plant performance can be improved by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) association under challenging conditions, such as those caused by excessive soil As levels. In this study, the influence of AM on CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll a fluorescence, SPAD-chlorophyll contents and plant growth was investigated in rice plants exposed to arsenate (AsV) or arsenite (AsIII) and inoculated or not with Rhizophagus irregularis. Under AsV and AsIII exposure, AM rice plants had greater biomass accumulation and relative chlorophyll content, increased water-use efficiency, higher carbon assimilation rate and higher stomatal conductance and transpiration rates than non-AM rice plants did. Chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis revealed significant differences in the response of AM-associated and -non-associated plants to As. Mycorrhization increased the maximum and actual quantum yields of photosystem II and the electron transport rate, maintaining higher values even under As exposure. Apart from the negative effects of AsV and AsIII on the photosynthetic rates and PSII efficiency in rice leaves, taken together, these results indicate that AM is able to sustain higher rice photosynthesis efficiency even under elevated As concentrations, especially when As is present as AsV.

Topics: Arsenates; Arsenites; Biomass; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Electron Transport; Glomeromycota; Mycorrhizae; Oryza; Photosynthesis; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Plant Leaves; Soil Pollutants; Stress, Physiological

In plants, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an emerging novel signaling molecule that is involved in growth regulation and abiotic stress responses. However, little is known about its role in the regulation of arsenate (As(V)) toxicity. Therefore, hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate whether sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS; a source of H2S) is involved in the regulation of As(V) toxicity in pea seedlings. Results showed that As(V) caused decreases in growth, photosynthesis (measured as chlorophyll fluorescence) and nitrogen content, which was accompanied by the accumulation of As. As(V) treatment also reduced the activities of cysteine desulfhydrase and nitrate reductase, and contents of H2S and nitric oxide (NO). However, addition of NaHS ameliorated As(V) toxicity in pea seedlings, which coincided with the increased contents of H2S and NO. The cysteine level was higher under As(V) treatment in comparison to all other treatments (As-free; NaHS; As(V)+NaHS). The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and damage to lipids, proteins and membranes increased by As(V) while NaHS alleviated these effects. Enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle (AsA-GSH cycle) showed inhibition of their activities following As(V) treatment while their activities were increased by application of NaHS. The redox status of ascorbate and glutathione was disturbed by As(V) as indicated by a steep decline in their reduced/oxidized ratios. However, simultaneous NaHS application restored the redox status of the ascorbate and glutathione pools. The results of this study demonstrated that H2S and NO might both be involved in reducing the accumulation of As and triggering up-regulation of the AsA-GSH cycle to counterbalance ROS-mediated damage to macromolecules. Furthermore, the results suggest a crucial role of H2S in plant priming, and in particular for pea seedlings in mitigating As(V) stress.

Topics: Arsenates; Ascorbic Acid; Biomass; Cell Membrane; Chlorophyll; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase; Cysteine; Fluorescence; Glutathione; Hydrogen Sulfide; Lipid Metabolism; Nitrate Reductase; Nitric Oxide; Nitrogen; Pisum sativum; Plant Proteins; Reactive Oxygen Species; Seedlings; Up-Regulation

Blue green algae Anabaena sp. was cultivated in synthetic arsenite solution to investigate its bio-oxidation potential for arsenic species. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed based on a 3-level full factorial design considering four factors, viz. initial arsenic (III) concentration, algal dose, temperature and time. Bio-oxidation (%) of arsenic (III) was considered as response for the design. The study revealed that about 100% conversion of As (III) to As (V) was obtained for initial As (III) concentration of 2.5-7.5 mg/L at 30 °C for 72 h of exposure using 3 g/L of algal dose signifying a unique bio-oxidation potential of Anabaena sp. The dissolved CO2 (DCO2) and oxygen (DO) concentration in solution was monitored during the process and based on the data, a probable mechanism was proposed wherein algal cell acts like a catalytic membrane surface and expedites the bio-oxidation process. Bioaccumulation of arsenic, as well as, surface adsorption on algal cell was found considerably low. Lipid content of algal biomass grown in arsenite solution was found slightly lower than that of algae grown in synthetic media. Toxicity effects on algal cells due to arsenic exposure were evaluated in terms of comet assay and chlorophyll a content which indicated DNA damage to some extent along with very little decrease in chlorophyll a content. In summary, the present study explored the potential application of Anabaena sp. as an ecofriendly and sustainable option for detoxification of arsenic contaminated natural water with value-added product generation.

Topics: Adsorption; Anabaena; Arsenates; Arsenic; Arsenites; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Environmental Pollutants; Oxidation-Reduction; Solutions

To study the differential response in two rice genotypes (PB1 and IR-64), hydroponically grown 14 days old plants were exposed to 50, 150 and 300µM As(V) for 24 and 96h. Accumulation of As was not significantly higher in PB1 variety except at higher concentration (300μM) and duration (96h), but up regulation of gene transcripts were higher as compared to IR-64. Inhibition in seed germination, root-shoot length, chlorophyll and protein content was observed in both varieties with increasing concentration and exposure time. PB1 variety was found more capable to detoxify As(V) through induction of antioxidant defense system and other stress related parameters (cysteine, proline content). SDS-PAGE and semi quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed significant changes in protein profile and gene expression analysis. The results suggests that various studied parameters and transcripts accumulation showed a combinatorial type of tolerance mechanism in PB1 variety to provide better protection against As(V) stress.

Topics: Antioxidants; Arsenates; Chlorophyll; Cysteine; Drug Tolerance; Gene Expression; Genotype; Germination; Hydroponics; Inactivation, Metabolic; Malondialdehyde; Oryza; Plant Proteins; Proline; Species Specificity; Stress, Physiological

This study aimed to isolate and characterize a new arsenic (As)-tolerant bacterial strain (XJ-1) from the Halosol soil, to evaluate its As tolerance, and to examine the variation in composition and relative content of accumulated photosynthetic pigments in response to As. The experiments were performed with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and grayscale intensity image analysis using Gel-Pro analyzer software. Strain XJ-1 was identified as Rhodobacter (R.) capsulatus based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and physiological characteristics. Strain XJ-1 was able to grow when exposed to arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] under anaerobic-light conditions. The median effective concentrations (EC50) of As(III) and As(V) were 0.61 mM and 2.03 mM, respectively. Strain XJ-1 could reduce As(V) to As(III), but As(III) could not be transformed back to As(V) or other organic As compounds. Accumulation of bacteriochlorophylls and carotenoids in strain XJ-1 varied in the presence of 0.2-1.2 mM As(III) and 0-2.5 mM As(V). As exposure resulted in pronounced variation in compositions and contents of photosynthetic pigments, especially hydroxyspheroidene, bacteriophaeophytin, the ratio of tetrahydrogeranylgeranyl to phytylated BChl a, and the ratio of spheroidene to spheroidenone. This research highlights the adaptative response of R. capsulatus strain XJ-1 photosystems to environmental As, and demonstrates the potential of utilizing the sensitivity of its photosynthetic pigments to As(III) and As(V) for the biodetection of As in the environment.

Topics: Arsenates; Arsenic; Arsenites; Carotenoids; Chlorophyll; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Mass Spectrometry; Photosynthesis; Rhodobacter capsulatus; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

The changes in photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, protein content, and antioxidant enzymes were investigated in a foliose lichen Pyxine cocoes, which was subjected to increasing concentrations of arsenate.. The arsenate concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 200 μM were sprayed every alternate day on the lichen thallus. The thalli were then harvested on 10, 20, 30, and 45 days.. The quantity of photosynthetic pigments exhibited a decreasing trend till 20 days but increased from 30 days onwards. Concomitantly, chlorophyll fluorescence also showed a decreasing trend with increasing arsenic treatment duration as well as concentration. The higher concentration of arsenate was found to be deleterious to the photosynthesis of lichen as the chlorophyll fluorescence and the amount of pigments decreased significantly. The protein content of lichen increased uninterruptedly as the concentration of arsenate as well as duration of treatment increased. The activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxide increased initially at lower concentration of arsenate but declined at higher concentrations and longer duration of treatment.. The catalase activity was found to be most susceptible to arsenate stress as its activity started declining from very beginning of the experiment. P. cocoes also proved to be an excellent accumulator of arsenate whose concentration increased in the thallus corresponding to its increase in the treatment and duration. Thus, it can be utilized for active biomonitoring of arsenic pollution.

Topics: Antioxidants; Arsenates; Ascomycota; Ascorbate Peroxidases; Catalase; Chlorophyll; Environmental Monitoring; Fluorescence; Lichens; Photosynthesis; Pigments, Biological; Superoxide Dismutase

The aim of this study was to test in a short term laboratory experiment the accumulation and physiological effects of As in the epiphytic lichen Xanthoria parietina. Arsenic content in treated samples increased progressively with increasing concentration in treatment solutions. Treatment of X. parietina thalli with 0.1, 1, 10 ppm As solutions caused significant decrease of viability, measured as intensity of respiratory activity, and damages to cell membranes, assessed by increase of electric conductivity of rinsing water and lipid peroxidation products. Soluble proteins content decreased and H₂O₂ content increased already at the lowest As concentration tested (0.01 ppm). Photosynthetic efficiency, measured in terms of F(V)/F(M) ratio, decreased significantly only at the highest As concentration (10 ppm). It was concluded that As exposure causes physiological stress both on the mycobiont and the photobiont and that cell membrane damage, expressed in terms of electric conductivity of rinsing water, is the parameter most affected by As treatment.

Topics: Arsenates; Arsenic; Ascomycota; Cell Membrane; Chlorophyll; Environmental Pollutants; Lichens; Lipid Peroxidation; Photosynthesis; Reactive Oxygen Species

The study identifies sensitive and tolerant cultivars of Zea mays L. (cv. Azad kamal (AK) and Azad uttam (AU)) towards As(V) induced stress, based upon growth biochemical parameters and metal(loid) levels in a sand culture. As(V) (μgg⁻¹ dw) accumulation was lower in cv. AK (31 ± 1 and 107 ± 30) than cv. AU (34.5 ± 3.3 and 132.6) in leaves and roots, respectively, which correlated with lower levels of malondialdehyde and H₂O₂. No definite trend of Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, K and Na accumulation signifies that As(V) has little influence on their uptake. Total chlorophyll and protein levels increased in cv. AK and decreased in cv. AU at 7d. Higher levels of SOD and GR in cv. AK and conversely higher levels of APX, GPX and CAT in cv. AU could be a possible differential detoxification mechanism between the cultivars. The results indicate that cv. AK seems to be arsenate tolerant than cv. AU. We assure that the undertaken study does not involve humans or experimental animals and were conducted in accordance with national and institutional guidelines for the protection of human subjects and animal welfare.

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Arsenates; Catalase; Chlorophyll; Glutathione Peroxidase; Hydrogen Peroxide; Inactivation, Metabolic; Lipid Peroxidation; Malondialdehyde; Metals, Heavy; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Soil Pollutants; Superoxide Dismutase; Zea mays

Both arsenic pollution and eutrophication are prominent environmental issues when considering the problem of global water pollution. It is important to reveal the effects of arsenic species on cyanobacterial growth and toxin yields to assess ecological risk of arsenic pollution or at least understand naturally occurring blooms. The sensitivity of cyanobacteria to arsenate has often been linked to the structural similarities of arsenate and phosphate. Thus, we approached the effect of arsenate with concentrations from 10(-8) to 10(-4) M on Microcystis strain PCC7806 under various phosphate regimes. The present study showed that Microcystis strain PCC7806 was arsenate tolerant up to 10(-4) M. And such tolerance was without reference to both content of intra- and extra-cellular phosphate. It seems that arsenate involved the regulation of microcystin synthesis and cellular polyphosphate contributed to microcystin production of Microcystis responding to arsenate, since there was a positive linear correlation of the cellular microcystin quota with the exposure concentration of arsenate when the cells were not preconditioned to phosphate starvation. It is presumed that arsenate could help to actively export microcystins from living Microcystis cells when preconditioned to phosphate starvation and incubated with the medium containing 1 microM phosphate. This study firstly provided evidence that microcystin content and/or release of Microcystis might be impacted by arsenate if it exists in harmful algal blooms.

Topics: Arsenates; Chlorophyll; Microcystins; Microcystis; Phosphates; Water Pollutants, Chemical

The fern Pteris vittata is an arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator and can take up very high concentrations of arsenic from the soil. However, little is known about its response to co-contamination with arsenic and copper (Cu). In this study, we used an in vitro model system of P. vittata gametophytes to investigate the impact of changes in As and Cu status on growth, chlorophyll (chl) concentration, metal accumulation, and subcellular localization. A remarkable inhibition of growth occurred when gametophytes were exposed to concentrations >or=1.0mM Na(3)AsO(4) or >or=0.5mM CuSO(4). chl concentration decreased significantly when gametophytes were exposed to >0.25mM of CuSO(4), but increased steadily with concentration to

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Arsenates; Cell Membrane Permeability; Cell Survival; Chlorophyll; Copper; Copper Sulfate; Germ Cells; Pteris; Subcellular Fractions; Tissue Distribution

To evaluate the biological effects of wastewater samples containing heavy metals, the effects of metal Cd (II) and As (V) were studied on Spirodela polyrrhiza L. The plants were exposed at metal concentrations 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2 microM of Cd (II) and 1, 5, 10, 20 microM of As (V) for a period of 1, 4, 7 d (day) alone and in combination of both. Plants accumulated 1855 mg kg(-1) dw (dry weight) Cd and 1230 mg kg(-1) dw As after 7 d in alone, whereas it was 885 mg kg(-1) dw Cd and 865 mg kg(-1) dw As in combination. The toxicological parameters such as fresh biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and total protein contents increased up to 2 microM of Cd (II) after 1 d and 10 microM of As (V) after 4 d with respect to control (Hormesis effect), followed by gradual decline at higher concentrations and duration. In case of Cd (II) a maximum decrease of 58% in protein content, 62% in fresh biomass, and 78% in total chlorophyll was observed at 2 microM, whereas, with As (V) 38% decrease in protein content, 34% in fresh biomass, and 52% in total chlorophyll was shown at 20 microM after 7 d. The metal tolerance strategy against metal induced reactive oxygen species adopted by the plants was investigated with reference to nonprotein thiols (NP-SH), cysteine, and ascorbic acid. The results of combined treatment revealed reduced toxicity at the level of fresh biomass, protein content, and chlorophyll; however, the amount of nonenzymatic antioxidant did not significantly (P = 0.172) increase as compared to alone treatment. Finally, it was concluded that due to high metal accumulation coupled with defense potential, the plant appears to have a potential for its use as phytoremediator species of aquatic environments.

Topics: Antioxidants; Araceae; Arsenates; Biomass; Cadmium; Chlorophyll; Humans; Metals, Heavy; Water Pollutants, Chemical