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Silicon nutrition modulates arsenic-inflicted oxidative overload and thiol metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

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Abstract

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to establish the response of exogenous silicon [Si] in alleviating arsenate [As (V)] prompted alterations on antioxidant enzyme activities and thiol metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv PBW 343) seedlings. Objective of the work was to validate the hypothesis whether silicate may alleviate arsenate-provoked oxidative stress in wheat through diverse metabolic pathways with an endeavor to improve food safety and health. Arsenate treatment significantly enhanced oxidative stress and was associated with modifications in non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. The activities of arsenate reductase [AR] and the enzymes related to thiol metabolism revealed dose-dependent enhancements with increase in arsenate along with enhanced production of phytochelatins [PCs] in the cultivar. Simultaneous supplementations of silicate with arsenate in the nutrient formulation reduced arsenate uptake along with arsenate reductase activity and consequently lowered arsenite [As (III)] accumulation. The antioxidative defense was upregulated and phytochelatin production was lowered causing an appreciable revival from the arsenate-imposed consequences that eventually augmented growth.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the infrastructural assistance provided by the Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta (UGC-CAS Phase VII), DST-FIST and DBT-IPLS facility for completion of the work. The authors are thankful to the Central Instrument Facility, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India for providing the HPLC facilities. The authors also acknowledge the assistance of Prof. Uttam Bandopadhyay, Department of Statistics, University of Calcutta, for statistical analyses.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. However, financial assistance to A.K.B. was from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, for completion of the work.

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  1. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Study, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India

    Palin Sil & Asok K. Biswas

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  1. Palin Sil
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  2. Asok K. Biswas
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Both the authors contributed significantly to the research article. P.S. conducted the experiments, compiled and analyzed data, and prepared draft of the manuscript. A.K.B. conceived the idea, designed experiments, and finalized the manuscript. Both authors equally approve the publication.

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Correspondence to Asok K. Biswas.

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Sil, P., Biswas, A.K. Silicon nutrition modulates arsenic-inflicted oxidative overload and thiol metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 45209–45224 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10369-z

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