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Managing arsenic (V) toxicity by phosphate supplementation in rice seedlings: modulations in AsA-GSH cycle and other antioxidant enzymes

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Abstract

The toxic and non-essential metalloid arsenic (As) is ubiquitous in the environment with its absorption from the soil into the plants’ roots posing detrimental effects on the crop plants and hence the food availability and food security are also threatened. The present study was intended to reduce the As-induced toxicity in rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) by phosphate (PO43−). For this, three concentrations of potassium phosphate (KH2PO4), 50, 100 and 150 μM were supplemented along with 50 μM As exposure to hydroponically grown 7-day-old rice seedlings. Supplementation of PO43− significantly recovered arsenic-induced diminutions in growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment contents which were due to the significant increase in superoxide radical (SOR, O2•¯) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Supplementation of 50 μM PO43− could significantly increase the activity of APX (ascorbate peroxidase) and GR (glutathione reductase) while 100 μM PO43− could increase the activity of DHAR (dehydroascorbate reductase) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR). As the amount of PO43− was increased, the ratio of AsA/DHA (reduced to oxidized ascorbate) and GSH/GSSG (reduced to oxidized glutathione) was increased significantly due to increase in the reduced form of the non-enzymes i.e. AsA and GSH. The activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and GPX (guaiacol peroxidase) decreased significantly after a substantive increase in their activities due to As stress while the CAT (catalase) activity further enhanced after the supplementation of 50 and 100 μM PO43−. Thus, the As-induced oxidative stress in the rice seedlings was managed by concerted modulations in the activities of SOD, GPX, CAT and AsA-GSH cycle enzymes and metabolites.

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Acknowledgements

The Head, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, India is gratefully acknowledged for providing necessary laboratory facilities.

Funding

The authors are obliged to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for the award of Dr. D. S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme-F 4-2/2006 (BSR)/13-113/2013 (BSR) to Rohit Kumar Mishra.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, U.P, 211002, India

    Rohit Kumar Mishra, Rachana Singh, Parul Parihar, Jitendra Kumar, Prabhat Kumar Srivastava & Sheo Mohan Prasad

  2. Department of Botany, Government Degree College, Baluwakote, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, 262576, India

    Gitanjali Mishra

  3. School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144001, India

    Parul Parihar

  4. Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Mohaan Road, Lucknow, U.P, 226017, India

    Jitendra Kumar

  5. Department of Botany, KS Saket PG College, Ayodhya, U.P, 224123, India

    Prabhat Kumar Srivastava

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  1. Rohit Kumar Mishra
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  2. Gitanjali Mishra
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Contributions

Rohit Kumar Mishra designed the experiment, analyzed the data, interpreted the results and wrote the manuscript. Gitanjali Mishra sketched the graphical abstract and helped in manuscript preparation. Parul Parihar, Rachana Singh and Jitendra Kumar accomplished the experiment. Prabhat Kumar Srivastava and Sheo Mohan Prasad reviewed and improved the manuscript. The final version of the manuscript has been seen and agreed by all the authors.

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Highlights

• Arsenic stress induces diminutions in growth attributes and photosynthetic pigments.

• Arsenic stress provokes oxidative burst in rice seedlings.

• The histochemical analysis of ROS proves the severe oxidative stress experienced by rice seedlings.

• The supplementation of PO43− strengthened the compatibility of ascorbate-glutathione(AsA-GSH) cycle.

• The application of PO43− fortified the antioxidative defence system against ROS.

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Mishra, R.K., Mishra, G., Singh, R. et al. Managing arsenic (V) toxicity by phosphate supplementation in rice seedlings: modulations in AsA-GSH cycle and other antioxidant enzymes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 14418–14429 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16587-3

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