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Evaluation of zinc accumulation, allocation, and tolerance in Zea mays L. seedlings: implication for zinc phytoextraction

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Abstract

This work investigated the accumulation, allocation, and impact of zinc (Zn; 1.0 μM–10 mM) in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings under simulated laboratory conditions. Z. mays exhibited no significant change in its habitus (the physical characteristics of plants) up to 10–1000 μM of Zn (vs 5–10 mM Zn). Zn tolerance evaluation, based on the root test, indicated a high tolerance of Z. mays to both low and intermediate (or relatively high) concentrations of Zn, whereas this plant failed to tolerate 10 mM Zn and exhibited a 5-fold decrease in its Zn tolerance. Contingent to Zn treatment levels, Zn hampered the growth of axial organs and brought decreases in the leaf area, water regime, and biomass accumulation. Nevertheless, at elevated levels of Zn (10 mM), Zn2+ was stored in the root cytoplasm and inhibited both axial organ growth and water regime. However, accumulation and allocation of Zn in Z. mays roots, studied herein employing X-ray fluorimeter and histochemical methods, were close to Zn accumulator plants. Overall, the study outcomes revealed Zn tolerance of Z. mays, and also implicate its potential role in Zn phytoextraction.

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Acknowledgments

DIB and ASL thank to the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia for financing their present research through project number 6.783.2014K. NAA, IA, and EP gratefully acknowledge the financial support of both the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BPD/64690/2009; SFRH/BPD/84671/2012), the Aveiro University Research Institute/CESAM (UID/AMB/50017/2013), and “COMPETE” through Project No. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-02800 (FCT PTDC/AGR-PRO/4091/2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Physiology and Ecology of Plants, N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, Bolshevistskaja Str., 68, Saransk, 430005, Russia

    Dmitry I. Bashmakov & Alexander S. Lukatkin

  2. CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Naser A. Anjum, Iqbal Ahmad & Eduarda Pereira

  3. CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Iqbal Ahmad

Authors
  1. Dmitry I. Bashmakov
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  2. Alexander S. Lukatkin
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  3. Naser A. Anjum
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  4. Iqbal Ahmad
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  5. Eduarda Pereira
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Correspondence to Naser A. Anjum.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Bashmakov, D.I., Lukatkin, A.S., Anjum, N.A. et al. Evaluation of zinc accumulation, allocation, and tolerance in Zea mays L. seedlings: implication for zinc phytoextraction. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 15443–15448 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4698-x

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