PJB-2024-601
Arsenic-Mediated Augmentation in Oxidative Stress and Alteration in Primary Metabolism Reduce Growth of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Plants
Samira Khaliq
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have been mainly instrumental to increase the levels of arsenic in the environment, and it is contemplated as a highly toxic metal for all organisms including plants.
Aims: In the current study, the response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants to high regimes of arsenic applied through root-zone was appraised.
Methods: Two regimes (0.05 and 0.1 mM) of arsenic applied through growth medium.
Key Results: As significantly decreased the germination percentage, plant growth (shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights), chlorophyll pigments, anthocyanins, carotenoids, total soluble sugars, total free amino acids, total soluble proteins, and total phenolics in cucumber plants. In contrast, As supplementation caused a significant increase in the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), total flavonoids, proline and ascorbic acid (AsA), as well as the activities of key enzymes of the oxidative defence system such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) of cucumber plants. In most cases, the higher level of As proved to be more toxic to the cucumber plants than the lower level.
Conclusions: However, synthesis and accumulation of flavonoids, proline and AsA rather than soluble sugars, free amino acids and proteins represented altered primary metabolism, and induced tolerance in cucumber irrespective of varying levels of As applied.
Implications: Overall, root-zone applied As induced considerable reduction in plant growth and photosynthetic pigments, while an increase in the oxidative as well as antioxidative defence system of cucumber plants which is not good for public health and environment.
To Cite this article:
Download
