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Effect of cadmium and calcium treatments on phytochelatin and glutathione levels in citrus plants
Author(s) -
LópezCliment M. F.,
Arbona V.,
PérezClemente R. M.,
Zandalinas S. I.,
GómezCadenas A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/plb.12006
Subject(s) - cadmium , phytochelatin , glutathione , biology , context (archaeology) , botany , photosynthesis , calcium , horticulture , biochemistry , chemistry , enzyme , paleontology , organic chemistry
Industry residues, phosphate fertilisers and wastewater as a source of irrigation have considerably increased levels of heavy metals in the soil, mainly cadmium (Cd 2+ ). To test the effects of a calcium (Ca 2+ ) treatment on Cd 2+ accumulation and plant tolerance to this heavy metal, plants of two citrus genotypes, Cleopatra mandarin ( CM ) and Carrizo citrange ( CC ), were watered with increasing concentrations of Cd 2+ , and phytochelatin ( PC ) and glutathione ( GSH ) content were measured. Both genotypes were able to synthesise PC s in response to heavy metal intoxication, although CM seems to be a better Cd 2+ excluder than CC . However, data indicate that CC plants had a higher capacity for regenerating GSH than CM plants. In this context, the effects of Ca 2+ treatment on Cd 2+ accumulation, plant survival and PC , GSH and oxidised glutathione ( GSSG ) content were assessed. Data indicate that treatment with Ca 2+ had two positive effects on citrus physiology: it reduced Cd +2 uptake into roots and also increased GSH content (even in the absence of Cd 2+ ). Overall, the data indicate that although Cd 2+ exclusion is a powerful mechanism to avoid heavy metal build‐up into photosynthetic organs, the capacity to maintain optimum GSH levels to feed PC biosynthesis could also be an important factor in stress tolerance.