Oxidative stress triggered by arsenic in a tropical macrophyte is alleviated by endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) plays important role in alleviating abiotic stresses in plants, including those caused by arsenic (As). Here, we examined the effects of endogenous and exogenous NO in Spirodela intermedia W. Koch (Lemnaceae) under As exposure. For this purpose, we evaluated the As content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, membrane damage and enzymatic antioxidant system. The levels of endogenous NO and the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) were also addressed. The As treatment triggered the production of high endogenous levels of NO and a pronounced activation of the antioxidant enzymes; however, it was not sufficient to completely avoid the increment in ROS content and membrane damage. In contrast, exogenous NO decreased the As levels in plants exposed to As and NO donor, mitigating the ROS production and membrane damage, while maintaining a lower activity of the antioxidant enzymes compared with As-treated plants. Exogenous NO further downregulated the NR activity by a negative feedback, while As boosted the NR activity, consistent with the high endogenous levels of NO observed upon As treatment. Our results suggest that both endogenous and exogenous NO play critical roles in alleviating the As-induced oxidative stress in S. intermedia by reducing As uptake, and possibly by acting as an antioxidant molecule.