Screening for cadmium tolerance of 21 cultivars from Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) during germination

Abstract

The cadmium (Cd) tolerance of 21 Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were investigated in this study by evaluating the process of seed germination on exposure to excess Cd. Excess Cd resulted in the significant growth inhibition, particularly of root growth. The relation between Cd concentrations and inhibition rate of root or shoot elongation can be well described by a logarithmic equation. The maximum values of IC50 (Cd concentration when the root or shoot elongation decreased to 50% compared with control) were observed in root and shoot of ‘IdyII’, whereas the minimums showed in ‘Nioudachi’ and ‘Harukaze’. Cadmium dramatically inhibited the seed germination of 21 cultivars. By comparison of physiological parameters including the absolute and relative value of root and shoot length, germination rate, germination energy, germination index and vigor index, all the tested cultivars exhibited variation when exposed to the same strength of Cd stress. In addition, the values of evaluation index, subordinate function were used to evaluate the Cd tolerance among cultivars treated with excess Cd. As a result, cultivar ‘IdyII’ was identified to be most tolerant to Cd stress, cultivar ‘Tachiwase’ was the most sensitive one. Cluster analysis indicated that 21 cultivars of Italian ryegrass can be classified into four groups, Cd‐tolerant, moderate Cd‐tolerant, low Cd‐tolerant and Cd‐sensitive groups. The results will be basic information for cultivating forage crops used as bioenergy crops in Cd polluted environments.

Germination Responses of Ryegrass (Annual vs. Perennial) Seed to the Interactive Effects of Temperature and Salt-Alkali Stress

“…In addition, both species are salt tolerant and have potential in improving degraded soil. Previous studies have reported seed germination responses of this species to temperatures ( Shen et al, 2008 ), cadmium stress ( Fang et al, 2017 ) with either annual or perennial ryegrass. However, no information is available on germination responses of annual and perennial ryegrass seeds to the interactive effects of temperature and salt-alkali stress.…”

Evaluation of three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars as sensitive Cd biomarkers during the seedling stage

“…Cultivar dependent Cd sensitivity in tested wheat cultivars under Cd exposure Cultivar-dependent differential Cd tolerance has been reported in various plants such as maize (Akhtar et al, 2017), Amaranthus gangeticus (He et al, 2018), Italian ryegrass (Fang et al, 2017) and rice (Hou et al, 2018). In current study, different Cd tolerance and tissue vulnerability to Cd toxicity in three tested cultivars were unravelled.…”

Peer Review #1 of "Evaluation of three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars as sensitive Cd biomarkers during the seedling stage (v0.1)"

“…Cultivar-dependent differential Cd tolerance has been reported in various plants such as maize (Akhtar et al 2017), Amaranthus gangeticus (He et al 2018), Italian ryegrass (Fang et al 2017), and rice (Hou et al 2018). In current study, different Cd tolerance and tissues vulnerable to Cd toxicity in three tested cultivars were unraveled.…”