Bernard Mocquot

Cadmium toxicity effects on growth, mineral and chlorophyll contents, and activities of stress related enzymes in young maize plants (Zea mays L.)

Plants were cultivated in a nutrient solution containing increasing cadmium concentrations (i.e. 0.001–25 µM), under strictly controlled growth conditions. Changes in both growth parameters and enzyme activities, directly or indirectly related to the cellular free radical scavenging systems, were studied in roots and leaves of 14-day-old maize plants (Zea mays L., cv. Volga) as a result of Cd uptake. A decrease in both shoot length and leaf dry biomass was found to be significant only when growing on 25 µM Cd, whereas concentrations of chlorophyll pigments in the 4th leaf decreased from 1.7 µM Cd on. Changes in enzyme activities occurred at lower Cd concentrations in solution leading to lower threshold values for Cd contents in plants than those observed for growth parameters. Peroxidase (POD; E.C. 1.11.1.7) activity increased in the 3rd and 4th leaf, but not in roots. In contrast, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH; E.C. 1.1.1.49), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH; E.C. 1.1.1.42) and malic enzyme (ME; E.C. 1.1.1.40) activities decreased in the 3rd leaf. According to the relationship between the POD activity and the Cd content, a toxic critical value was set at 3 mg Cd per kg dry matter in the 3rd leaf and 5 mg Cd per kg dry matter in the 4th. Anionic POD were determined both in root and leaf protein extracts; however, no changes in the isoperoxidase pattern were detected in case of Cd toxicity. Results show that in contrast with growth parameters, the measurement of enzyme activities may be included as early biomarkers in a plant bioassay to assess the phytotoxicity of Cd-contaminated soils on maize plants.

Copper toxicity in young maize (Zea mays L.) plants: effects on growth, mineral and chlorophyll contents, and enzyme activities

Changes in the growth parameters and in enzyme activities were studied in roots and leaves of 14-days old maize grown in a nutrient solution containing various copper concentrations (i.e. 0.01 to 10 μM). A significant decrease in root and leaf biomass was only found at 10 μM Cu. In contrast, changes in several enzyme activities occured at lower copper concentrations in the solution, corresponding to different threshold values which are lower than those observed for growth parameters. Peroxidase (POD) activity significantly increased in all investigated plant organs (i.e. 3rd-leaf, 4th-leaf and roots) in relation to their copper content. Additionally, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) activities decreased in the leaves, especially in the 4th-leaf. However, the activity of malic enzyme (ME), G-6-PDH, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and ICDH increased with the copper content in roots. According to the relationship between POD activity and copper content, the toxic critical value was set at 26 mg Cu per kg dry matter (DM) in roots and 21 mg Cu per kg DM in the 3rd-leaf. In roots, a new isoenzyme of peroxidase appeared for copper content above 12.6 mg Cu kg DM−1. Measurement of enzyme activity, especially that of POD and Cu-specific changes in the (iso)peroxidase pattern, might be used as biomarkers to assess the phytotoxicity for maize grown on copper-contaminated substrata.

Cadmium availability to wheat in five soil series from the Yonne district, Burgundy, France

Preliminary results from the French ASPITET programme demonstrated that Cd background levels in agricultural soils can vary greatly (0.02-6.9 mg Cd kg(-1)) depending on parent material and pedogenic processes (Baize, 1997). However, the total Cd content in soil is often not significantly related to the Cd concentration in edible plant parts. A field case study was undertaken across the southern part of the Yonne district, Burgundy, France. This area has various soil series with either low or high geochemical Cd content in the topsoil. Cd availability in soils sampled at 16 sites belonging to five soil series was investigated using single extractions. In addition, shoots (at stem elongation) and grains (at harvest) of field-grown wheat were collected at the same sites and analysed for macronutrients and trace elements. Cd concentrations in grain varied from 0.015 to 0.146 mg Cd kg(-1) DM depending on soil characteristics, soil series, and plant mineral composition. Cd grain concentrations did not reflect total Cd content in the surface soil layer; however, they were correlated with Cd extracted by a 0.1 M calcium nitrate unbuffered solution, and to a lesser extent with either soil pH or CEC. These three parameters may be useful guides to predict Cd in wheat grain harvested in the Yonne district. An inverse relationship was found between Cd and Cu contents in grain. The highest Cd concentrations in wheat grain occurred in plants grown on Aubues soils which had marginal Cu and Zn deficiencies in shoots. In order of Cd accumulation in wheat grain, soil series may be ranked as follows: Domérien < Carixien, Terres Noires < Sols Marron < Aubues.

Expression of alcohol dehydrogenase in rice embryos under anoxia.

SummaryAlcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was present in roots and shoots of 48-h rice embryos and rose in response to anoxia. The increase was accompanied by changes in the ADH isozyme pattern. Translatable levels of mRNA for two ADH peptides increases as early as 1 h after the beginning of anoxic treatment. Adh mRNA was detected in aerobically grown rice embryos by hybridization to maize Adh1 cDNA: its level increased significantly after 3 h of anoxia.

Uptake and partitioning of sludge-borne copper in field-grown maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract Accumulation of sludge-borne copper (Cu) by field-grown maize and its distribution between the different plant organs was studied in detail in a long-term sewage sludge field trial. Since 1974, field plots on a coarse sandy soil have been amended each year with farmyard manure (FYM) at a rate of 10 t dry matter (DM) ha −1 year −1 and with sewage sludge at the two levels of 10 t DM ha −1 year −1 (SS 10) and 100 t DM ha −1 per 2 years (SS 100). All field plots have been cropped annually with maize. In 1993, five replicate plants per treatment were examined at six different growth stages from seedling to grain maturity. Each plant was separated into at least 12 different parts and the Cu content of each was determined. Regarding growth parameters, no visible deleterious effects on plant development due to the different soil treatments could be observed, although the dry matter yield of roots and stalks of SS 100-treated plants was significantly reduced. Significantly increased Cu concentrations of up to 60 mg Cu kg −1 DM in the roots of young SS 100-grown maize plants and of up to 20 mg Cu kg −1 DM in the upper leaves at silage stage were found. No critical Cu amounts were reached in the grains until harvest.

Rice embryos can express heat-shock genes under anoxia.

Heat-shock proteins (hsps) are induced by a number of oxidative stresses. The proposal that the reduction products of oxygen initiate hsp induction was tested in rice embryos, capable of coleoptile growth under oxygen-free conditions. In such embryos, hsps could be detected by both in vivo labeling and in vitro translation of RNA using the reticulocyte lysate system. It is therefore improbable that the mechanism for hsp induction involves oxygen.

Distribution of sludge-borne manganese in field-grown maize.

Abstract The uptake and distribution of manganese (Mn) in field‐grown maize (Zea mays L.) was studied in a long‐term sewage sludge field trial on an acid sandy soil at Bordeaux. Since 1974, sewage sludge had been applied at levels of 101 dry matter (DM) ha‐1 year‐1 (SS 10) and 1001 DM ha‐1 per 2 years (SS 100) on annually cropped maize plots. Treatment with farmyard manure (FYM) at a rate of 10 t DM ha‐1 year‐1 served as unpolluted control. Five replicate plants per treatment were examined at six different growth stages. At each stage, the whole plant was separated into its different organs and the Mn distribution was determined in at least 12 different plant parts. Manganese concentrations were always higher in SS 100 plants compared to FYM and SS 10 treated plants. Significant treatment‐dependent differences occurred almost all in the roots and in the different leaf levels while we found similar Mn concentrations in the stalk and in the reproductive organs. In the different stalk levels and in the ear composites we determined low Mn concentrations with critical deficiency values in FYM and SS 10 plants while Mn concentrations in SS 100 plants were in the normal range. Soil treatment also significantly influenced the initial absorption by the roots. Despite low absolute Mn concentrations in the roots of FYM plants, the Mn transfer coefficient (plant Mn concentration/soil Mn concentration) was highest in FYM plants and lowest in SS 100 plants indicating a relatively low Mn plant availability in the sludge‐treated plots.