José Cambraia

Photosynthesis and activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase in cotton under salt stress

Abstract The effects of NaCl stress on the activity of antioxidant enzyme such as superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (POD: EC 1.11.1.7), glutathione reductase (GR: EC 1.6.4.2), rate of lipid peroxidation, gas-exchange, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence were investigated in two cotton cultivars, Guazuncho and Pora (hybrids between Gossypium hirsutum × G. arboretum × G. raimondii ) grown in nutrient solution. Plants were treated with three salt concentrations (50, 100 and 200 mol m −3 NaCl) for 21 days. The SOD activity in Pora increases with the increase in the intensity of NaCl stress, but salt treatment had no significant effect on this enzyme activity in Guazuncho. The POD and GR activities showed similar trends under salt stress, in both cotton cultivars. In Pora, there was an average increase in GR activity of about 53%, but there was no further increase at higher NaCl concentrations. In Guazuncho, no change in GR activity was observed. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased in response to salt stress, but Pora showed a smaller reduction in photosynthesis than Guazuncho. The results indicated that stomatal aperture limited leaf photosynthetic capacity in the NaCl-treated plants of both cultivars. However, significant reduction in the leaf chlorophyll contents due to NaCl stress was observed only on Guazuncho. In both cotton cultivars, the photochemical efficiency of PSII was not affected by salt stress. These results suggest that salt-tolerant cotton varieties may have a better protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes under salt stress.

Solute accumulation and distribution during shoot and leaf development in two sorghum genotypes under salt stress

Abstract Seedlings of two forage sorghum genotypes (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) differing in salt tolerance were subjected to 0 and 100 mM NaCl and shoot development, leaf elongation, and organic and inorganic solutes contents in leaves were measured. Salt stress reduced both shoot development and leaf elongation and enhanced leaf senescence and injury. It also led to accumulation of toxic ions (Na+ and Cl−), organic solutes (carbohydrates, amino acids and proline), and reduction of K+ content in leaf blades. Toxic ion accumulation was higher in the basal zone of the leaf blade and occurred during the period of intense leaf growth while organic solutes accumulation, mainly proline, was higher in the apical zone and occurred when the leaves practically had reached their final size. All these changes were more conspicuous in the sensitive than in the tolerant genotype. The latter also retained more toxic ions in leaf sheath tissue than the former. It is suggested that the reduction in shoot development and leaf elongation were related to toxic ion accumulation and depletion of K+ ions in the leaf blades. The accumulation of organic solutes in leaves did not appear to be related to salt tolerance. Proline accumulation appears to be a reaction to salt stress damage and not a plant response associated with salt tolerance.

Plant growth and solute accumulation and distribution in two sorghum genotypes, under NaCl stress

Seedlings of two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotypes with differential tolerance to salinity were exposed to 0 and 100 mM NaCl, gradually added in increments of 25 mM every 12 hours, in nutrient solution. Seven days after starting the salt treatment the growth of the shoot and root system and the inorganic and organic solutes contents were determined. Salinity reduced the dry matter yield and length of the shoot and root system in both sorghum genotypes, specially in the sensitive one. In general, it was observed an increase in Na + and Cl - transfer to the shoot, in Na + and Cl - accumulation and in the Na + /Cl - ratio but a decrease in the K + and Ca 2+ transfer to shoot and in the K + and Ca 2+ contents in the shoot, always with higher intensity in sensitive genotype. Apparently, the tolerance to high saline concentrations in sorghum seems to be related to the genotype ability to avoid accumulation of harmful levels of Na + and Cl - and, or to maintain adequate levels of K + and Ca 2+ , specially in the shoot. The soluble carbohydrates and amino acids constituted together over 98% of the total organic solutes and showed the greatest absolute increase in concentration during saline stress. Probably, the soluble carbohydrates were the most important organic solutes to contribute to the osmotic adjustment in the leaves and the amino acids in the roots. Under saline stress there was an expressive increase in proline contents, specially in the oldest leaves of sensitive genotype. The proline contents, however, even under salt stress, did not reach the levels of other organic solutes. Contrary to the general acceptance, proline does not seem to have an important role in the mechanism of salt tolerance, at least for these genotypes and under the experimental conditions applied here. ADDITIONAL INDEX TERMS: Salinity, salt stress, salt accumulation, organic solutes accumulation, Sorghum bicolor.

Effects of aluminum on organic acid, sugar and amino acid composition of the root system of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Abstract The effects of aluminum on the accumulation of sugars, amino acids and organic acids in two hybrid cultivars of sorghum were studied. The concentration of these organic compounds increased in the roots of the Al‐treated plants, mainly in the tolerant cultivar. The composition of the organic acid fraction showed a significantly higher accumulation of trans‐aconitate and malate in the tolerant cultivar as compared with the sensitive one. The higher levels of these acids in the Al‐treated plants could be interpreted as being indicative of a chelating detoxifying mechanism of aluminum in these plants.

Cadmium-induced oxidative stress and antioxidative enzyme response in water hyacinth and salvinia

The reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme response of water hyacinth and salvinia to Cd were evaluated. Cadmium was absorbed/accumulated mainly in the roots, but significant amounts also translocated to the leaves. No Cd effect on dry weight was detected, although toxicity symptoms were visible. Superoxide and H2O2 concentrations increased, in addition to lipid peroxidation in both species, especially in the leaves of salvinia. In general, antioxidative enzyme activities were reduced in both species following Cd treatment, especially in salvinia. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.9) activity decreased in water hyacinth but increased in salvinia. Glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) activity increased in the leaves but decreased in the roots of both species. So, Cd induced ROS generation/accumulation, but the antioxidative enzymes were not able to combat the Cd-induced oxidative injury in these two species. Nevertheless, water hyacinth consistently showed a higher tolerance to Cd than salvinia.

ALUMINUM EFFECTS ON FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND LIPID PEROXIDATION OF A PURIFIED PLASMA MEMBRANE FRACTION OF ROOT APICES OF TWO SORGHUM CULTIVARS

Aluminum (Al) effects on fatty acid composition and on the lipid peroxidation of a purified plasma membrane fraction of root apices of two sorghum cultivars were studied. Palmitic and linoleic acids were the major fatty acids in the root apices of sorghum, independent of the Al presence in nutrient solution. After Al treatment, the C18:0/C18:3 and C18:2/C18:3 ratios increased, while the C18:2/C16:0 ratio remained unchanged in the Al-sensitive cultivar but all three ratios decreased in the Al-tolerant cultivar. The double bond index and unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio decreased in both cultivars but with higher intensity in the Al-sensitive cultivar. The linolenic and palmitic acids were probably the most important fatty acids associated with Al tolerance in the two sorghum cultivar studied. In the presence of Al, these two fatty acids decreased in the Al-sensitive cultivar but increased in the Al-tolerant cultivar. Plasma membranes obtained from the entire root system of the Al-sensitive cultivar showed higher concentration of malonaldehyde-thiobarbituric acid complex than the Al-tolerant cultivar, independent of the Al treatment. In root apices, in the absence of Al, there was no difference between cultivars. In the presence of Al, however, the concentration of the malonaldehyde-thiobarbituric acid complex increased about 43% but only in the Al-sensitive cultivar. So, under Al treatment, the Al-sensitive cultivar produced 36% more malonaldehyde-thiobarbituric acid complex than the Al-tolerant cultivar, which was taken as indicative of higher reactive oxygen species production and higher fatty acid peroxidation of the plasma membrane of this cultivar.

Aluminum effects on uptake and translocation of nitrogen in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, L. Moench)

Abstract The effects of aluminum on the uptake and translocation of N in two hybrid cultivars of sorghum with differential tolerance to aluminum were studied. Aluminum decreased the amount of N accumulated and the % of N in the aerial parts of the plants. In the roots the amount of N accumulated also decreased but the % of N increased, in both cultivars. Besides an effect on dry matter yield, Al probably reduces the uptake of N and its translocation to the aerial parts of the plant. Apparently, this impairment on N translocation resulted from Al effects on the root pressure. Aluminum not only reduced the amount of N translocated but also changed the sap composition. The % of NO3 ‐N decreased while the % of amino acid‐N increased suggesting an Al effect on N uptake and also on protein degradation. Asparagine and glutamine contributed about 80% of the free amino acid fraction; however, their proportions changed in presence of Al. Therefore, Al also interfered with the synthesis and/or interconversion of the...

Mineral nutrition and enzymatic adaptation induced by arsenate and arsenite exposure in lettuce plants.

Arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) contamination is able to interfere negatively on plant metabolism, promoting a reduction of nutrients uptake and transport and also an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, some plants are considered tolerant against As exposure through the activation of defense mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different As(V) and As(III) concentrations (0.0, 6.6, 13.2, 26.4 and 52.8 μmol L(-1)), on mineral nutrients concentration [calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorous (P), iron (Fe), manganese (Mg) and copper (Cu)], on membrane lipid peroxidation and also on the enzymes belonging to the antioxidant defense system [superoxide dismutase (SOD), total peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)] of plants of Lactuca sativa L. cv Hanson. As(V) and As(III), showed, in general, the same toxic effects in leaves and roots with significant changes in essential macro- and micronutrients concentration. Lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes was also observed in tested plants, probably resulted from an action of ROS generated by this metalloid. The increase of ROS generation and their scavenge were evident since an increase of SOD, POX, CAT and APX activity in leaves, and SOD, CAT and GR activity in roots were observed. Therefore, As(V) and As(III) exposure resulted in toxic effects in leaves and roots of lettuce plants; however, this plant species was able to attenuate these potential As damages through the activation of defense mechanisms, keeping its metabolism. Arsenic-tolerant plants are considered a great risk to the public health since it results in As insertion to the food chain.

Osmotic adjustment in roots and leaves of two sorghum genotypes under NaCl stress

Seedlings of two sorghum genotypes [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], one salt tolerant (CSF 20) and the other salt sensitive (CSF 18) were grown in nutrient solution containing 0, 50 and 100 mmol.L-1 NaCl for seven days and the osmotic potential (Ys) and the contribution of organic and inorganic solutes to the Ys were determined in the leaves and roots. Salinity reduced the Ys of the cellular sap of leaves and roots in both genotypes, mainly in the salt sensitive one. The higher decrease in the Ys in the salt sensitive genotype was mostly due to higher accumulation of Na+ and Cl- that probably exceeded the amount needed for the osmotic adjustment. Among the inorganic solutes, K+ contributed the most to the Ys in control unstressed seedlings, but its contribution decreased as salt stress increased, especially in the salt sensitive genotype. Soluble carbohydrates and amino acids were the organic solutes that contributed the most to the leaf and root Ys, respectively. No statistically significant difference in these organic solute contributions to the leaf Ys between genotypes was observed. Their contributions to the root Ys, however, were higher in the salt tolerant genotype, especially at higher NaCl concentration. Proline contribution to leaf and root Ys was quite small in both genotypes and its accumulation was not related to salt tolerance. Our results suggest that the salt tolerant genotype was able to maintain a more adequate osmotic pool in the leaves and roots under salt stress than the salt sensitive genotype.

Aluminum effects on nitrate uptake and reduction in sorghum

Abstract The effects of Al on nitrate uptake and on the activity of the nitrate reductase (NR) in two hybrid cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) differing in Al tolerance were studied. The nitrate uptake by intact root system was strongly reduced by Al in both cultivars, but mainly in the Al‐sensitive cultivar. The kinetic constants also changed in the presence of Al: Vmax decreased 98% and 71% and Km increased 267% and 42% in the Al‐sensitive and Al‐tolerant cultivar, respectively. Aluminum reduced the in vitro NR activity on the roots and shoots of both cultivars, especially of the Al‐sensitive cultivar. Aluminum added to the nutrient solution or to the reaction mixture, however, inhibited differentially the NR of the roots and shoots, indicating marked differences between the enzymes from these two tissues. Aluminum reduced the Vmax but did not affect the Km of nitrate activation of the shoot NR. Therefore, Al inhibition of the NR was non‐competitive and could not be reversed by increasi...