Analysis of physiological and metabolite response of Celosia argentea to copper stress

Abstract

Copper‐tolerant (Cu) plants with high ornamental value play an important role in the ecological restoration of the copper tail mining area. We first discovered Celosia argentea adaptability in a copper mine area in China; however, its resistance to Cu and the underlying mechanism are not clear. In this study, C. argentea was selected for pot culture experiments. Its heavy metal accumulation and translocation, physiological and metabolic products were analysed under different growth concentrations of Cu (0–2400 mg.kg−1) stress. Our results indicated that roots strongly accumulated Cu2+. Oxidative stress defence mechanisms were activated in leaves under Cu treatment. Higher Cu concentrations triggered higher electrolyte leakage (EL), Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, and consequently a higher capacity to scavenge oxygen radicals and maintain cellular membrane integrity. In the citrate cycle, some amino acids and sugars related to biological pathways were altered in C. argentea exposed to Cu stress. Metabolomics data revealed that C. argentea used elevated sugar content as an antioxidant to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some organic acids and amino acids were up‐regulated compared with the control, indicating that these may chelate Cu in cells to remove excess Cu2+. The up‐regulation of polyamines and some organic acids may mitigate oxidative stress. These results indicate that C. argentea could be used as a Cu‐tolerant plant in Cu mine restoration. Its Cu tolerance mechanism also provides a basis for future plant improvement or breeding for use in mine restoration.

Understanding the Active Mechanisms of Plant (Sesuvium portulacastrum L.) against Heavy Metal Toxicity

“…Accordingly, a further increase in the content of some amino acids (such as glycine, alanine, glutamate, arginine, ornithine, valine, serine, phenylalanine, and aspartate) suggests the possibility that they are specifically secreted to adapt to external heavy metal stress. This finding supports previous research into this area which links changing amino acid content and inducing a high level of heavy metals tolerance [ 1 , 10 ]. It is a widely held view that such amino acids, especially proline, glycine, and alanine, are involved in stabilizing macromolecules structures, scavenging free radicals, adjusting heavy metal toxicity by binding metal ions inside cells of several plant tissues, and altering the solubility, adsorption and desorption, fractions, and migration of metals through dissolution, chelation, and oxidation/reduction [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Lead toxicity and Spermine as affecting the Chemical Composition and Growth of Solidago canadensis L. cv. ʽTaraʼ plant

“…The interaction between Pb levels x spermine treatments affected total sugars of S. canadensis plants. These results in agreement with Wang et al [66] on Celosia argentea plants under copper stress.…”

Gene expression profiling of Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) under copper stress: Identification of genes associated with copper resistance

“…Terpenoids can also enhance the stability and rigidity of the chloroplast membrane by increasing the hydrophobic bonding between lipids [ 59 , 60 ]. Enhancing the stability of membranes is a protective mechanism for resisting ROS mediated damage and lipid peroxidation caused by copper toxicity [ 61 , 62 ].…”