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Modulation of copper toxicity-induced oxidative damage by excess supply of iron in maize plants

  • Biotic and Abiotic Stress
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Abstract

In this study, we examined the modulation of Cu toxicity-induced oxidative stress by excess supply of iron in Zea mays L. plants. Plants receiving excess of Cu (100 μM) showed decreased water potential and simultaneously showed wilting in the leaves. Later, the young leaves exhibited chlorosis and necrotic scorching of lamina. Excess of Cu suppressed growth, decreased concentration of chloroplastic pigments and fresh and dry weight of plants. The activities of peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7; POD), ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11; APX) and superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1; SOD) were increased in plants supplied excess of Cu. However, activity of catalase (EC 1.11.1.6; CAT), was depressed in these plants. In gel activities of isoforms of POD, APX and SOD also revealed upregulation of these enzymes. Excess (500 μM)-Fe-supplemented Cu-stressed plants, however, looked better in their phenotypic appearance, had increased concentration of chloroplastic pigments, dry weight, and improved leaf tissue water status in comparison to the plants supplied excess of Cu. Moreover, activities of antioxidant enzymes including CAT were further enhanced and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and H2O2 concentrations decreased in excess-Fe-supplemented Cu-stressed plants. In situ accumulation of H2O2, contrary to that of O2 ·− radical, increased in both leaf and roots of excess-Cu-stressed plants, but Cu-excess plants supplied with excess-Fe showed reduced accumulation H2O2 and little higher of O2 ·− in comparison to excess-Cu plants. It is, therefore, concluded that excess-Cu (100 μM) induces oxidative stress by increasing production of H2O2 despite of increased antioxidant protection and that the excess-Cu-induced oxidative damage is minimized by excess supply of Fe.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

AsA:

Ascorbic acid

CAT:

Catalase

DAT:

Days after treatments

EDTA:

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

POD:

Peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TCA:

Trichloroacetic acid

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Acknowledgments

Authors (P. K. and R. K. T.) are grateful to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, for financial supports. Dr. P.K. Misra, Dr. Neetu and Dr. Shyam Kishore are gratefully acknowledged for their help in microphotography and Dr. Amit Gupta for his help in the measurement of metals.

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  1. Rajesh Kumar Tewari

    Present address: Research Center for the Development of Advanced Horticultural Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 361-763, Republic of Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India

    Praveen Kumar, Rajesh Kumar Tewari & Parma Nand Sharma

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  1. Praveen Kumar
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Correspondence to Parma Nand Sharma.

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Communicated by A. Feher.

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Kumar, P., Tewari, R.K. & Sharma, P.N. Modulation of copper toxicity-induced oxidative damage by excess supply of iron in maize plants. Plant Cell Rep 27, 399–409 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-007-0453-1

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