Alleviating Effect of Exogenous Application of Ascorbic Acid on Growth and Mineral Nutrients in Cadmium Stressed Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Seedlings

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in sand-filled pots under normal temperature (28±2ºC) to assess the role of exogenously applied ascorbic acid in alleviating the effect of cadmium (Cd) stress on four barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes (Jau-83, Jau-87, Paidar 91 and Haider 93). After germination, seedlings were exposed to different Cd concentrations (0, 100, 300, 500 and 700 µM CdCl2) along with AsA (200 mg L -1 ) and grown for 15 days. The results suggested that exposure to increased Cd levels caused a significant reduction in growth and mineral nutrients contents of barley seedlings. However, there was a noticeable difference in the effect of Cd on mineral concentrations among genotypes and the difference mainly coincided with differential accumulation of Cd in the shoot and root tissues. When AsA was applied to Cd-stressed plants, it decreased Cd accumulation in shoots and roots and also showed partial reversal of Cd stress effects. It was also observed that at the same Cd concentrations Cd tolerance index of Jau-83 was the highest among the four barley genotypes, indicating that Jau-83 had lower Cd contents in roots may be more tolerant to Cd stress. The application of AsA was effective in reducing the toxicity of increased Cd by reducing the root or shoots Cd contents, as well as by improving the seedling growth attributes and the mineral nutrients in barley.

The Uptake, Accumulation, and Toxic Effects of Cadmium in Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli)

“…In order to examine the growth parameters of E. crus-galli in different treatments, the roots and aboveground part FW and length as well as tiller number per plant were determined (Table 2) Cd-treated plants were significantly reduced by 18.47 and 22.28%, than that of control. In addition, shoot lengths were severely decreased by 1.21, 11.20, and 9.28%, respectively, in response to 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mg·kg -1 Cd treatments, which are similar to those obtained by Ullah et al (2012) [28]. However, the 1.5 mg·kg -1 Cd application didn't affect significant changes on root and shoot length compared to control.…”

Application of super absorbent polymer and ascorbic acid to mitigate deleterious effects of cadmium in wheat

“…Similar results were reported by Ullah et al (2016). Plants exposed to high levels of Cd showed reduced photosynthesis, water uptake, nutrient uptake and seed weight.…”

“…A wealth of information suggests that ascorbic acid plays a significant role in protecting plants against several environmental stresses (Noctor & Foyer 1998, Ullah et al 2016.…”

Transcriptome analysis of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruits under osmotic stresses and identification of genes related to ascorbic acid pathway

“…In addition, AsA constitutes a part of various signal transduction pathways (Pastori et al 2003) and is known to act as a major cellular antioxidant protecting against damage caused by reactive oxygen species, usually produced under stress conditions. For example, an exogenous application of AsA increases the resistance to salt stress (SS) in wheat (Athar et al 2008), barley seedlings (Ullah et al 2016) and canola (Alam et al 2014). It also acts as a powerful antioxidant for human health (Hancock and Viola 2005).…”