Biochemical Changes under Chromium Stress on Germinating Seedlings of &lt;i&gt;Vigna radiata&lt;/i&gt;

Bhavin Suthar,Dr Vinay R Patel,Mafatlal M Kher,Jayesh Pansuriya,Murugan Nataraj

doi:10.15835/nsb.6.1.9203

Abstract

Hexavalant chromium is considered the most toxic form because of its high solubility in water. Cr is known to induce production of elevated concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulted in macromolecule damage. Plants are having unique mechanisms to overcome ROS induced damage by accumulation of proline, ascorbate and glutathione and increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and ascorbate peroxidaes (APX), peroxidise (POX). In the present investigation effects of chromium on seed germination of Mung bean (Vigna radiata 'Gujarat Mung-4’) were studied. Seeds were treated with different Cr concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 200 4M) for seven days. On 7th day root and shoot length was measured and activities of antioxidant enzyme SOD, APX, POX, CAT and GR were checked along with protein, proline and lipid peroxidation. It was observed that there is gradual decrease in shoot and root length with respect to the increase in Cr concentration. Level of lipid peroxidation significantly increased along with proline and antioxidant enzyme activity at higher Cr concentration. Lipid peroxidation is an indication of membrane damage due to elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To combat oxidative damage by ROS antioxidant enzyme activity increased significantly, which indicates that antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX and GR) play a crucial role during Cr stress during germination of V. radiata.

Highlights

Agricultural land contamination with heavy metals is a serious problem, which has gathered considerable public attention in recent decades
Some metals are required for plant growth and development but some of them are very toxic at elevated concentration
Shoot and root length significantly decreased with respect to increase in Cr concentration

Summary

Introduction

Agricultural land contamination with heavy metals is a serious problem, which has gathered considerable public attention in recent decades. Some metals are required for plant growth and development but some of them are very toxic at elevated concentration. Sources of heavy metal contamination include anthropogenic activities, like use of pesticides, agriculture waste and industrial waste. Cr is known to induce production of elevated concentration of ROS resulted in macromolecule damage. Plants have evolved mechanisms to overcome ROS induced damage by accumulation of proline, ascorbate and glutathione and increasing the activities of SOD, CAT, GR, POX and APX (Samantaray et al, 1998; Nataraj et al, 2009, Thounaojam et al, 2012; Tripathi et al 2012;). The present investigation was undertaken to test the effects of chromium on growth, induction of oxidative stress and antioxidative responses in Mung bean cultivar ‛Gujarat Mung-4.’

Materials and methods

Results and discussions

Conclusions