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Interactive Effect of Silicon (Si) and Salicylic Acid (SA) in Maize Seedlings and Their Mechanisms of Cadmium (Cd) Toxicity Alleviation

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Abstract

The present study has been conducted to evaluate the impact of silicon (Si) and salicylic acid (SA) in the regulation of Cd-induced toxicity in maize seedlings. Cadmium (Cd: 100 µM) significantly reduced root and shoot fresh weight and length, photosynthetic pigments, total soluble protein content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Cadmium decreased root and shoot length by 23 and 19% and fresh weight by 27 and 24%, respectively when compared to their respective controls. Similarly, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and total soluble protein were decreased by 21, 18 and 28%, respectively by Cd. In contrast, the addition of SA (500 µM) and Si (10 µM), and their combination (SA + Si) together with Cd treatment successfully ameliorated Cd-induced harmful impacts on studied parameters as SA and Si alone and in combination reduced Cd accumulation and oxidative stresses and thus refurbish the damages. Cd significantly stimulated activity of superoxide dismutase while inhibited activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and declined total ascorbate and glutathione contents. In contrast, the addition of SA and Si alone and in combination stimulated the activities of APX, GR and DHAR and significantly increased levels of total ascorbate and glutathione. In conclusion, the present study suggested that although SA and Si both alone are able to alleviate Cd-induced toxicity in maize seedlings, but their combination was the most effective in nullifying Cd-induced toxicity in maize seedlings.

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Abbreviations

SA:

Salicylic acid

AsA:

Reduced ascorbate

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

DHA:

Dehydroascorbate

DHAR:

Dehydroascorbate reductase

Fv/Fm:

Maximum photochemical efficiency of PS II

GR:

Glutathione reductase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching

qP:

Photochemical quenching

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

Si:

Silicon

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

SOR:

Superoxide radical

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Acknowledgements

Swati Singh is thankful to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for providing D. Phil Fellowship. The authors are thankful to UGC for providing FIST Grant to the Department of Botany University of Allahabad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. D D Pant Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India

    Swati Singh & Devendra Kumar Chauhan

  2. Department of Botany, CMP Degree College, A Constituent Post Graduate College of University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India

    Vijay Pratap Singh

  3. Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India

    Sheo Mohan Prasad

  4. Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Allahabad, 211004, India

    Shivesh Sharma

  5. Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, I 2 Block, 5th Floor, AUUP Campus Sector-125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201313, India

    Naleeni Ramawat & Durgesh Kumar Tripathi

  6. Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Nawal Kishore Dubey

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  1. Swati Singh
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Singh, S., Singh, V.P., Prasad, S.M. et al. Interactive Effect of Silicon (Si) and Salicylic Acid (SA) in Maize Seedlings and Their Mechanisms of Cadmium (Cd) Toxicity Alleviation. J Plant Growth Regul 38, 1587–1597 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-019-09958-1

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