Influence of salicylic acid on phytochelatin synthesis in Zea mays during Cd stress

Authors

GABRIELLA SZALAI
ALEXANDER KRANTEV
RUSINA YORDANOVA
LOSANKA PETROVA POPOVA
TIBOR JANDA

DOI

10.3906/bot-1210-6

Abstract

Presoaking maize (Zea mays) seeds in salicylic acid (SA) reduces damage caused by cadmium. In the present work the possible role of phytochelatins (PCs) in SA-mediated protection against Cd toxicity was investigated. Seeds were presoaked in 0.5 mM SA, and seedlings were grown in hydroponic solution containing 0, 0.01, 0.015, or 0.025 mM Cd. Treatment with Cd increased the PC levels in maize roots, but only slight changes were observed in the leaves. Long-term exposure to Cd decreased the phytochelatin synthase (PCS) activity in the roots and led to an increase in PCS and glutathione reductase (GR) activities in maize leaves. Although presoaking seeds in SA solution before exposure to Cd may reduce the level of heavy metal injury and has an effect on the composition of individual PCs, this protection is not directly connected with the altered regulation of PCs.

Keywords

Cadmium, heavy metal, phytochelatins, salicylic acid, Zea mays

First Page

708

Last Page

714

Recommended Citation

SZALAI, GABRIELLA; KRANTEV, ALEXANDER; YORDANOVA, RUSINA; POPOVA, LOSANKA PETROVA; and JANDA, TIBOR (2013) "Influence of salicylic acid on phytochelatin synthesis in Zea mays during Cd stress," Turkish Journal of Botany: Vol. 37: No. 4, Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3906/bot-1210-6
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/vol37/iss4/12