Abstract
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) is a turf grass species which is widely used for rhizoremediation of organic contaminants and shows notable prospects in heavy metal phytoremediation. In this study, different concentrations of cadmium ion (Cd2+) were applied to study toxic effects of Cd2+ and responses of tall fescue by soilless culture. Tall fescue showed comparable high tolerance to Cd2+ as Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Additionally, the treatment with high concentration of Cd2+ leaded to decreased chlorophyll contents, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation, as well as damage of cell membrane, necrosis and apoptosis in tall fescue roots, and toxicity of Cd2+ on physiologic properties of tall fescue has been well discussed. Moreover, in photosystem II electron donor side, electron transport from oxygen evolution complex (OEC) to Yz residue of D1 protein was inhibited under high Cd2+ treatments, which may be due to the Cd2+ induced ROS production and the replacement of Ca2+ in the core of OEC. In electron acceptor side, electron transport efficiency from quinone B to photosystem I acceptors increased under high Cd2+ treatments, which may be an important response for plants against Cd2+ toxicity and its mechanism needs our further study.
Highlights
On physiologic properties of tall fescue has been well discussed
54 days old tall fescue were treated with different concentrations of cadmium ion (Cd2+) for two weeks, and Cd contents, leave lengths, chlorophyll contents, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde contents (MDA) were measured
The highest Cd2+ contents in tall fescue roots and leaves were observed in the 150 mg/L Cd2+ treatment, and there were 25.73 and 0.73 mg/g (DW) respectively
Summary
On physiologic properties of tall fescue has been well discussed. in photosystem II electron donor side, electron transport from oxygen evolution complex (OEC) to Yz residue of D1 protein was inhibited under high Cd2+ treatments, which may be due to the Cd2+ induced ROS production and the replacement of Ca2+ in the core of OEC. Cadmium (Cd) is a dominant industrial and environmental pollutant in soils and it is widespread in environment especially in developing countries. It has deleterious effects on organisms within soils, associated vegetation cover as well as animals by food chain transport. The aim of this study was to evaluate toxicity of Cd in tall fescue roots and leaves and the response of tall fescue against Cd stress To this purpose, 54 days old tall fescue were treated with different concentrations of cadmium ion (Cd2+) for two weeks, and Cd contents, leave lengths, chlorophyll contents, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde contents (MDA) were measured. Photosynthetic activities of the tall fescue leaves under Cd2+ stress or not were studied by fast chlorophyll fluorescence and slow chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic, and the results has been properly discussed
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