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Cadmium‐induced changes in pigments, total phenolics, and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity in fronds of Azolla imbricata
Author(s) -
Dai LingPeng,
Xiong ZhiTing,
Huang Yu,
Li MinJing
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/tox.20212
Subject(s) - anthocyanin , frond , phenylalanine ammonia lyase , carotenoid , cadmium , chlorophyll , fern , botany , phenylalanine , pigment , chemistry , food science , biology , biochemistry , amino acid , organic chemistry
This study was designed to examine the effects of cadmium on several color‐related parameters (including chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin), total phenolics, and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) activity in an aquatic fern species Azolla imbricate ( A. imbricata ). Cd accumulation and effects in the fronds were closely related with Cd concentration in the growth medium. The fronds under 0.5 mg/L Cd treatment turned red on the 3rd day, and this color change also appeared under 0.05 and 0.1 mg/L Cd treatment on the 5th day. Correlated with the color change, the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid in the fronds significantly decreased in the presence of high Cd concentrations, while the anthocyanin content increased during the experiment. Significant increase in total phenolics content and PAL activity were also detected during Cd treatment. The results suggested that the Cd‐induced change in color of fronds might be due to the decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoid and the increase in anthocyanin. Anthocyanin, total phenolics and their biosynthesis‐related PAL might play a role in detoxification of Cd in A. imbricata. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 505–512, 2006.