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Matricaria chamomilla is not a hyperaccumulator, but tolerant to cadmium stress

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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.

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Abbreviations

GMCAs:

(Z)- and (E)-2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxycinnamic acids

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

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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.

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Correspondence to Miroslav Repčák.

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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

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