Arsenic Toxicity-Induced Physiological and Metabolic Changes in the Shoots of Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea.

Veronika Zemanová,Daniela Pavlíková,Milan Pavlík,František Hnilička

doi:10.3390/plants10102009

Veronika Zemanová, Daniela Pavlíková + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102009

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Abstract

Arsenic is a ubiquitous toxic element that can be accumulated into plant parts. The present study investigated the response of Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea to As treatment through the analysis of selected physiological and metabolic parameters. Plants were grown in pots in As(V) spiked soil (20 and 100 mg/kg). Plants’ physiological condition was estimated through the determination of elements, gas-exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, water potential, photosynthetic pigments, and free amino acid content. The results confirmed differing As accumulation in plants, as well as in shoots and roots, which indicated that P. cretica is an As-hyperaccumulator and that S. oleracea is an As-root excluder. Variations in physiological and metabolic parameters were observed among As treatments. Overall, the results revealed a significant effect of 100 mg/kg As treatment on the analysed parameters. In both plants, this treatment affected growth, N, Mg, S, Mn, and Zn content, as well as net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence, and total free amino acid content. In conclusion, the results reflect the similarity between P. cretica and S. oleracea in some aspects of plants’ response to As treatment, while physiological and metabolic parameter changes related to As treatments indicate the higher sensitivity of S. oleracea.

Highlights

Given that a decrease in Chltot content typically takes time to manifest and is generally considered an indicator of prolonged plant stress [47], our results indicated the higher sensitivity of S. oleracea than P. cretica to As treatment
Our results showed an increase of free amino acid (AA) by As treatment in S. oleracea shoots, whereas a decrease was observed in P. cretica shoots (Figure 5A), indicating a change of regulation of AA biosynthesis [18]
The study of the physiological and metabolic parameters was performed on two plant species differently adapted to As uptake

Summary

Introduction

Arsenic is a poisonous metalloid with potent carcinogenic and mutagenic properties [1], presenting a high ecotoxicological risk. As content increases through various anthropogenic activities (e.g., mining) or naturally through geochemical processes [2]. Water, and air, As exists in many chemical forms with variable degrees of mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity to plants [3]. Factors affecting these parameters include the As concentration in the soil, As species, the type of plant species, and other soil properties controlling As accessibility, accumulation, and fate in soils, microorganisms, and plants [4]

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