Abstract
The influence of low (3 µM) and high (60 and 120 µM) cadmium (Cd) concentrations were studied on selected aspects of metabolism in 4-week-old chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) plants. After 10 days’ exposure, dry mass accumulation and nitrogen content were not significantly altered under any of the levels of Cd. However, there was a significant decline in chlorophyll and water content in the leaves. Among coumarin-related compounds, herniarin was not affected by Cd, while its precursors (Z)- and (E)-2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxycinnamic acids (GMCAs) increased significantly at all the levels of Cd tested. Cd did not have any effect on umbelliferone, a stress metabolite of chamomile. Lipid peroxidation was also not affected by even 120 µM Cd. Cd accumulation was approximately seven- (60 µM Cd treatment) to eleven- (120 µM Cd treatment) fold higher in the roots than that in the leaves. At high concentrations, it stimulated potassium leakage from the roots, while at the lowest concentration it could stimulate potassium uptake. The results supported the hypothesis that metabolism was altered only slightly under high Cd stress, indicating that chamomile is tolerant to this metal. Preferential Cd accumulation in the roots indicated that chamomile could not be classified as a hyperaccumulator and, therefore, it is unsuitable for phytoremediation.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- GMCAs:
-
(Z)- and (E)-2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxycinnamic acids
- MDA:
-
Malondialdehyde
References
Aravind P, Prasad MNV (2003) Zinc alleviates cadmium-induced oxidative stress in Ceratophyllum demersum L.: a free floating freshwater macrophyte. Plant Physiol Biochem 41:391–397
Baker AJM, Walker PL (1990) Ecophysiology of metal uptake by tolerant plants. In: Shaw AJ (ed) Heavy metal tolerance in plants: evolutionary aspects. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp 155–177
Chaffei Ch, Pageau K, Suzuki A, Gouia H, Ghorbel MH, Masclaux-Daubresse C (2004) Cadmium toxicity induced changes in nitrogen management in Lycopersicon esculentum leading to a metabolic safeguard through an amino acid storage strategy. Plant Cell Physiol 45:1681–1693
Chaoui A, Mazhoudi S, Ghorbal MH, ElFerjani E (1997) Cadmium and zinc induction of lipid peroxidation and effects on antioxidant enzyme activities in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Plant Sci 127: 139–147
Chizzola R, Mitteregger U (2005) Cadmium and zinc interactions in trace element accumulation in chamomile. J Plant Nutr 28:1383–1396
Costa G, Morel JL (1994) Water relations, gas-exchange and amino-acid content in Cd-treated lettuce. Plant Physiol Biochem 32:561–570
Demidchik V, Shabala SN, Coutts KB, Tester MA, Davies JM (2003) Free oxygen radicals regulate plasma membrane Ca2+- and K+-permeable channels in plant root cells. J Cell Sci 116:81–88
Ederli L, Reale L, Ferranti F, Pasqualini S (2004) Responses induced by high concentration of cadmium in Phragmites australis roots. Physiol Plant 121:66–74
Eliašová A, Repčák M, Pastírová A (2004) Quantitative changes of secondary metabolites of Matricaria chamomilla by abiotic stress. Z Naturforsch 59c:543–548
Esterbauer H, Cheeseman KH (1990) Determination of aldehydic lipid peroxidation products: malonaldehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal. Method Enzymol 186:407–421
Gallego SM, Benavídes MP, Tomaro ML (1996) Effect of heavy metal ion excess on sunflower leaves: evidence for involvement of oxidative stress. Plant Sci 121:151–159
Grejtovský A, Repčák M, Gianits L (1998) The influence of soil cadmium eliminating sorbents on Chamomilla recutita. J Environ Sci Health B33: 307–316
Grejtovský A, Pirč R (2000) Effect of high cadmium concentrations in soil on growth, uptake of nutrients and some heavy metals of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert. J Appl Bot Angew Bot 74:169–174
Harborne JB (1980) Plant phenolics. In: Bell EA, Charlwood BV (eds) Secondary plant products. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 329–402
Hernandez LE, Coke DT (1997) Modification of the root plasma membrane lipid composition of cadmium-treated Pisum sativum. J Exp Bot 48:1375–1381
Hsu YT, Kao CH (2004) Cadmium toxicity is reduced by nitric oxide in rice leaves. Plant Growth Regul 42:227–238
Kováčik J, Repčák M, Kron I (2006) Nitrogen deficiency induced changes of free amino acids and coumarin contents in the leaves of Matricaria chamomilla L. Acta Physiol Plant 28:159–164
Král’ová K, Masarovičová E (2003) Hypericum perforatum L. and Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch.—accumulators of␣some toxic metals. Pharmazie 58:359–360
Larbi A, Morales F, Abadia A, Gogorcena Y, Lucena JJ, Abadia J (2002) Effects of Cd and Pb in sugar beet plants grown in nutrient solution: induced Fe deficiency and growth inhibition. Funct Plant Biol 29:1453–1464
Malkowski E, Kita A, Galas W, Karcz W, Kuperberg JM (2002) Lead distribution in corn seedlings (Zea mays L.) and its effect on growth and the concentrations of potassium and calcium. Plant Growth Regul 37:69–76
Perfus-Barbeoch L, Leonhardt N, Vavasseur A, Forestier C (2002) Heavy metal toxicity: cadmium permeates through calcium channels and disturbs the plant water status. Plant J 32:539–548
Pollard AJ, Powell KD, Harper FA, Smith JAC (2002) The genetic basis of metal hyperaccumulation in plants. Crit Rev Plant Sci 21:539–566
Rai V, Vajpayee P, Singh SN, Mehrotra S (2004) Effect of chromium accumulation on photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress defence system, nitrate reduction, proline level and eugenol content of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. Plant Sci 167:1159–1169
Repčák M, Imrich J, Franeková M (2001) Umbelliferone, a stress metabolite of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert. J Plant Physiol 158:1085–1087
Ritter H, Schulz GE (2004) Structural basis for the entrance into the phenylpropanoid metabolism catalyzed by phenyalanine ammonia-lyase. Plant Cell 16:3426–3436
Roosens N, Verbruggen N, Meerts P, Ximénez-Embún P, Smith JAC (2003) Natural variation in cadmium tolerance and its relationship to metal hyperaccumulation for seven populations of Thlaspi caerulescens from western Europe. Plant Cell Environ 26:1657–1672
Sandalio LM, Dalurzo HC, Gómez M, Romero-Puertas MC, del Río LA (2001) Cadmium-induced changes in the growth and oxidative metabolism of pea plants. J Exp Bot 52:2115–2126
Sanitá di Toppi L, Gabbrielli R (1999) Response to cadmium in higher plants. Environ Exp Bot 41:105–130
Shah K, Kumar RG, Verma S, Dubey RS (2001) Effects of cadmium on lipid peroxidation, superoxide anion generation and antioxidant enzymes in growing rice seedlings. Plant Sci 161:3325–3330
Wagner GJ (1993) Accumulation of cadmium in crop plants and its consequences to human health. Adv Agron 51:173–212
Wellburn AR (1994) The spectral determination of chlorophyll a and b, as well as total carotenoids, using various solvents with spectrophotometers of different resolutions. J Plant Physiol 144:307–313
Zhao F-J, Hamon RE, Lombi E, McLaughlin MJ, McGrath SP (2002) Characteristics of cadmium uptake in two contrasting ecotypes of the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens. J Exp Bot 53:535–543
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the grant of the Slovak Grant Agency VEGA (1/3260/06). The authors thank Prof. Dianne Fahselt and Prof. Luigi Sanitá di Toppi for constructive comments on the manuscript. Mrs. Anna Michalčová and Mrs. Margita Buzinkaiová are also acknowledged for their excellent technical assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kováčik, J., Tomko, J., Bačkor, M. et al. Matricaria chamomilla is not a hyperaccumulator, but tolerant to cadmium stress. Plant Growth Regul 50, 239–247 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-006-9141-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-006-9141-3