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Abstract
In the present study, the role of selenium in cadmium toxicity was investigated in cucumber seedlings by hydroponic experiments. The application of Se for cucumber exposed to Cd significantly reduced Cd accumulation in all tissues, elevated Cd-depressed chlorophyll content, and improved photosynthetic performance. External Se significantly reduced ·OH, H2O2 and malondialdehyde content. Exogenous Se balanced Cd-depressed elements (e.g., Se enhanced Cd-induced decreases in root Zn, leaf/stem/root Mn concentrations) and carbohydrate contents. External Se also significantly decreased the Cd-induced increases in Na+K+-, Ca2+Mg2+- and total ATPase activities, which recovered almost to control level. Results indicate that application of Se can alleviate Cd toxicity in cucumber seedlings by reducing Cd uptake and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, moreover protecting photosynthetic machinery from damaging, balancing elements and carbohydrate contents, and improving ATPase activities in cucumber.
Highlights
Cadmium (Cd) is an unessential element for plants
The level of lipid peroxidation was quantitated by the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) which was determined by thiobarbituric acid reaction in all treatments (Wu et al, 2003)
The frozen cucumber tissues (0.4 g) were homogenized in 8 mL of 50 mM phosphate buffer saline using a pre-chilled mortar and pestle; the homogenate was centrifuged for 15 min at 10000 × g at 4 °C, the supernatant was used to assays of activities of enzymes
Summary
Cadmium (Cd) is an unessential element for plants. When occurs in excess in the growth medium it becomes toxic to plants, which can naturally occur either in soil or by the anthropogenic activities, such as industrial mining, phosphate fertilizers application etc. (Loganathan & Hedley, 1997). Gallego et al (2012) indicated that out of an estimated 30,000 tonnes of annual Cd addition to the environment, 4,000-13,000 tonnes are contributed by human activities. When occurs in excess in the growth medium it becomes toxic to plants, which can naturally occur either in soil or by the anthropogenic activities, such as industrial mining, phosphate fertilizers application etc. Gallego et al (2012) indicated that out of an estimated 30,000 tonnes of annual Cd addition to the environment, 4,000-13,000 tonnes are contributed by human activities. Cd-accrued inhibited photosynthesis and impaired growth have been reported in several plants including barley, cucumber (Gallego et al, 2012; Janicka-Russak et al, 2012; Cao et al, 2014a; Asgher et al, 2015). It’s imperative to find effective and low-cost strategies to bring down Cd toxicity for the sake of humans health
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