Role of antioxidative defense system in amelioration of cadmium-induced phytotoxic effects in germinating seeds of maize (Zea mays)
Aamer Abbas A , Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad
A * , Muhammad Ashraf A , Qasim Ali B and Ambreen Khadija Alvi C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
B Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
C Department of Botany, Government College Women University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
Crop & Pasture Science 73(5) 599-613 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP21329
Submitted: 12 May 2021 Accepted: 24 August 2021 Published: 22 December 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Anthropogenic activities are increasing Cd concentration in soil and environment that limits seed germination capacity and causes poor seedling establishment.
Aims: The effect of different Cd concentrations on seed germination and seedling growth of two maize cultivars (C-20 and EV-1098) was tested in this study.
Methods: Maize seeds were sown in Petri dishes lined with double filter paper. The seedlings were grown in a growth chamber, applied with different Cd concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 μM), and harvested 12 days after germination.
Key results: Seeds applied with higher levels of Cd showed a significant decrease in seed germination percentage (GP), seed emergence index (EI) and germination energy (GE). A significant delay in seed germination was observed at the highest Cd treatment in terms of increased mean emergence time (MET), days to 50% germination (T50) and coefficient of uniformity of emergence (CUE). A marked decline in leaf K, Ca, Na, and P was observed, whereas root K, Ca and P increased with an increase in external Cd concentration. The roots and leaves of maize C-20 showed greater activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) than did those of EV-1098. In contrast, peroxidase (POD) activity was reasonably high in roots and leaves, whereas catalase (CAT) was high only in roots of EV-1098. Non-enzymatic antioxidants such as phenolics and ascorbicacid (AsA) also significantly increased, accompanied with substantially lowermalondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the roots and leaves of EV-1098 than of C-20.
Conclusions: The differential modulation of the activities of enzymatic and non-enzymaticanti-oxidative defense system in roots and leaves played a critical role intolerance of both cultivars to Cd stress.
Implications: The findings of this study are helpful in improving seed germination capacity and seedling growth of maize in Cd contaminated soils.
Keywords: ascorbic acid, cadmium, enzymatic anti-oxidants, MDA, non-enzymatic anti-oxidants, phenols, seed germination, seedling growth.
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