Hexavalent chromium leads to differential hormetic or damaging effects in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants in a concentration-dependent manner by regulating nitro-oxidative and proline metabolism

Chromium has been proven to be extremely phytotoxic. This study explored the impacts of increasing Cr(VI) exposure (up to 10 mg L−1 K2Cr2O7) on the growth and development of alfalfa plants and adaptation responses employed, in an environmentally relevant context. The threshold concentration of K2Cr2...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2020-12, Vol.267, p.115379-115379, Article 115379
Hauptverfasser: Christou, Anastasis, Georgiadou, Egli C., Zissimos, Andreas M., Christoforou, Irene C., Christofi, Christos, Neocleous, Damianos, Dalias, Panagiotis, Torrado, Sofia O.C.A., Argyraki, Ariadne, Fotopoulos, Vasileios
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Chromium has been proven to be extremely phytotoxic. This study explored the impacts of increasing Cr(VI) exposure (up to 10 mg L−1 K2Cr2O7) on the growth and development of alfalfa plants and adaptation responses employed, in an environmentally relevant context. The threshold concentration of K2Cr2O7 in irrigation water beyond which stress responses are initiated is 1 mg L−1. Lower Cr(VI) exposure (0.5 mg L−1 K2Cr2O7) induced hormesis, evident through increased biomass and larger leaves, likely mediated by increased NO content (supported by elevated NR enzymatic activity and overexpression of NR and ndh genes). Elevated Cr(VI) exposure (5 and 10 mg L−1 K2Cr2O7) resulted in reduced biomass and smaller leaves, and lower levels of photosynthetic pigment (10 mg L−1 K2Cr2O7). Higher levels of lipid peroxidation, H2O2 and NO contents in these plants suggested nitro-oxidative stress. Stress responses included increased SOD and CAT enzymatic activities, further supported to some extent by MnSOD, FeSOD, Cu/ZnSOD and CAT transcripts levels. GST7 and GST17 gene expression patterns, as well as proline content, P5CS enzymatic activity and corresponding P5CS and P5CR gene expression levels emphasized the role of proline and GSTs in the adaptation responses. Results highlight the importance of managing Cr(VI) levels in irrigation water. [Display omitted] •Alfalfa plants were exposed to Cr(VI) through irrigation in an agricultural setting.•Low exposure (0.5 mg L−1 K2Cr2O7) induced hormesis, mediated by elevated NO content.•Phytotoxic effects are initiated when K2Cr2O7 in irrigation water exceeded 1 mg L−1.•Elevated Cr(VI) exposure (5, 10 mg L−1 K2Cr2O7) resulted in nitro-oxidative stress.•Accumulation of proline and GSTs leads to enhanced tolerance to Cr(VI) toxicity.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115379