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Lead Induced Responses of Pfaffia glomerata, an Economically Important Brazilian Medicinal Plant, Under In Vitro Culture Conditions

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Abstract

Plantlets of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) were exposed in vitro for 30 days to five lead levels (0–400 μM) to analyze the effects on growth and oxidative stress and responses of various antioxidants vis-à-vis lead accumulation. The plantlets showed significant lead accumulation in roots (1,532 μg g−1 DW) with a low root to shoot lead translocation (ca. 3.6%). The growth of plantlets was negatively affected by various lead treatments, although the level of photosynthetic pigments did not alter significantly in response to any lead treatment. However, plantlets suffered from oxidative stress as suggested by the significant increase in malondialdehyde levels in root (8.48 μmol g−1 FW) and shoot (3.20 μmol g−1 FW) tissues with increasing lead treatments. In response to the imposed toxicity, increases in the activities of catalase in root (4.14 ∆E min−1 mg−1 protein) and shoot (3.46 ∆E min−1 mg−1 protein) and superoxide dismutase in root (345.32 units mg−1 protein) and shoot (75.26 units mg−1 protein), respectively, were observed, while the levels of non-protein thiols and ascorbic acid were not affected significantly in either roots or shoots.

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Acknowledgments

D. K. Gupta is thankful to Third World Academy of Science (TWAS), Italy and CNPq, Brazil for providing travel and research grant respectively at University Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil.

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Author notes

  1. D. K. Gupta

    Present address: Departamento de Bioquimica, Biologia Cellular y Molecular de Plantas, Estacion Experimental Del Zaidin, CSIC, Apartado 419, C/Profesor Albareda No 1, 18008, Granada, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil

    D. K. Gupta, F. T. Nicoloso & L. V. Rossato

  2. Department of Chemistry, University Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil

    M. R. Schetinger

  3. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Zhejiang University, Hua-jian-chi Campus, 310029, Hangzhou, China

    H. G. Huang & X. E. Yang

  4. Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India

    S. Srivastava

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  1. D. K. Gupta
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  2. F. T. Nicoloso
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  4. L. V. Rossato
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Correspondence to D. K. Gupta.

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Gupta, D.K., Nicoloso, F.T., Schetinger, M.R. et al. Lead Induced Responses of Pfaffia glomerata, an Economically Important Brazilian Medicinal Plant, Under In Vitro Culture Conditions. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 86, 272–277 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0226-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0226-y

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