Effects of exogenous salicylic acid on alleviation of arsenic-induced oxidative damages in rice

Abstract

Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic phytohormone that plays a vital role in plant development and mediates plant responses to plenty of adversity including arsenic (As) stress. The effects of exogenous addition of SA on As tolerance and As accumulation were assessed in two cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) Nipponbare and Zhongzao 39, hydroponically grown with Kimura B nutrient solution under arsenite [As (III)] and dimethylarsonic acid (DMA) exposure. In the second ex-periment, the influence of soaking seed with SA on As uptake and As damages was investigated in rice (cv. Nipponbare) exposed to As (III) and DMA. The results showed that exogenous addition of SA significantly decreased the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in both As (III)- and DMA-stressed rice, indicating that SA alleviates As-induced oxidative damages in rice. SA increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and, moreover, increased the relative amount of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (ASA) by accelerating the GSH-ASA circle system. Exogenous addition of SA significantly decreased the As concentration in both roots and shoots of rice under As(III) stress by influencing the expression of genes encoding As transporters, viz. OsLsi1, OsLsi2. The addition of SA significantly decreased the As content in shoots under DMA stress, which may be related to the expression of OsPTR7 involved in shoot xylem unloading. This finding may foster a novel perspective for reducing As accumulation in rice grains.