Effect of Cadmium on Germination Characters and Biochemical Parameters of Two Iranian Ecotypes of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

Authors

Department of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd), being a highly toxic metal pollutant of soils, it inhibits root and shoot growth and yield production, affects nutrient uptake and homeostasis. It is frequently accumulated by agriculturally important crops and then enters the food chain with a significant potential to impair animals and human’s health. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effects of various Cd levels (0 as control, 300, 450, 600, 750 and 1050 µM) on some growth and biochemical parameters of two Iranian ecotypes of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seedlings. The results revealed that seed germination, root growth, chlorophyll content and total soluble protein of both ecotypes decreased significantly with increase in metal concentration. The proline showed an increase in lower concentrations of Cd but at higher concentrations it decreased. The present results allow us to conclude that the cumin plants adversely affected by cadmium toxicity. Decrease in the seed germination percentage, root growth, chlorophyll and protein content may be considered as circumstantial evidence for the toxicity of cadmium. The present study demonstrated that under cadmium stress, C. cyminum underwent biochemical changes to survive under high concentrations of this metal. Increase in metal chelate components (proline) proves this fact. It can be concluded that Isfahan ecotype was superior to Khorasan ecotype in most of the measured parameters and it can be suggested that Isfahan ecotype is more tolerant to Cd stress than Khorasan ecotype.

Keywords


1. John R, Ahmad P, Gadgil K, Sharma S. Effect of cadmium and lead on growth, biochemical parameters and uptake in Lemna polyrrhiza L. Plant Soil Environ. 2008;54:262-270.

2. Shamsi IH, Wei K, Zhang GP, Jilani G, Hassan MJ. Interactive effects of cadmium and aluminum on growth and antioxidative enzymes in soybean. Biol Plantarum. 2008;52:165-169
3. Sharma P, Dubey RS. Cadmium Uptake and Its Toxicity in Higher Plants. In: Khan NA, Samiullah S (eds.) Cadmium Toxicity and Tolerance in Plants, Narosa publishing House, 2006, pp. 63-86.
4. Schutzendubel A, Schwanz P, Teichmann T, Langenfeld-Heyser GK, Godbold DL, Polle A. Cadmium-induced changes in antioxidative systems, hydrogen peroxide content, and differentiation in scots pine roots. Plant Physiol. 2001;127:887-898.
5. Amirthalingam T, Velusamy G, Pandian R. Cadmium -induced changes in mitotic index and genotoxicity on Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walp. J Environ Chem Ecotoxicol. 2013;5:57-62.
6. Einafshar S, Poorazarang H, Farhoosh, R, Seiedi M. Antioxidant activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract of cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum). Eur J Lipid Sci Tech. 2011;114:168–174.
7. Liu W, Li P, Qi X, Zhou Q, Zheng L, Sun TH, Yang YS. DNA changes in barely (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings induced by cadmium pollution using RAPD. Chemosphere. 2005;61:158-167.

8. Hiscox JD, Israeltam GF. A method for extraction of chlorophyll from leaf tissue without maceration. Canadian J Bot. 1979;59:1332-34.

9. Bradford MM. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the protein dyes binding. Annu Rev Biochem. 1976;72:248-254.
10. Bates LS, Waldren RP, Teare ID. Rapid determination of free proline for water-stress studies. Plant Soil. 1973;39:205-207.
11. Bhattacharya S, Puri S, Jamwal A, Sharma S. Studies on seed germination and seedling growth in kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) under abiotic stress conditions. Int J Sci Environ Tech. 2012;1:197-204.
12. Liu W, Sun L, Zhong M, Zhou M, Zhou Q, Gong Z, Li P, Tai P. Cadmium-induced DNA damage and mutations in Arabidopsis plantlet shoots identified by DNA fingerprinting. Chemosphere. 2012;89:1048–1055.

13. Munzuroglu O, Geckil H. Effects of metals on seed germination, root elongation, and coleoptile and hypocotyls growth in Triticum aestivum and Cucumis sativus. Arch Environ ConTox. 2002;43:203-213.

14. Al Khateeb W. Cadmium-induced changes in germination, seedlings growth, and DNA fingerprinting of in vitro grown Cichorium pumilum Jacq. Int J Biol. 2014;6:65-74.
15. Pandey S, Gupta K, Mukherjee AK. Impact of cadmium and lead on Catharanthus roseus – A phytoremediation study. J Environ Biol. 2007;28:655-662.
16. Vijayaragavan M, Prabhahar C, Sureshkumar J, Natarajan A, Vijayarengan P, Sharavanan S. Toxic effect of cadmium on seed germination, growth and biochemical contents of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata l.) plants. Int Multidiscip Res J. 2011;1:01-06.

17. Shafiq M, Iqbal MZ, Athar M. Effect of lead and cadmium on germination and seedling growth of Leucaena leucocephala. J Appl Sci Environ Manag. 2008;12:61-66.

18. Ekmekçi Y, Tanyolaç D, Ayhan B. Effects of cadmium on antioxidant enzyme and photosynthetic activities in leaves of two maize cultivars. Plant Physiol. 2008;165:600-611.
19. Hayat S, Ali B, Aiman S, Ahmad HA. Brassinosteroid enhanced the level of antioxidants under cadmium stress in Brassica juncea. Environ Exp Bot. 2007;60:33-41.
20. Gill SS, Khana NA, Tutejab N. Cadmium at high dose perturbs growth, photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism while at low dose it up regulates sulfur assimilation and antioxidant machinery in garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.). Plant Sci. 2012;182:112-120.
21. Pesko M, Kralova K, Masarovicova E. Responses of Hypericum perforatum plantsto supply of cadmium compounds containing different forms of selenium. Ecol Chem Eng. 2010;17(3):279-287.
22. Gupta P, Khatoon S, Tandon PK, Rai V. Effect of cadmium on growth, bacoside A, and Bacopaside I of  Bacopa monnieri (L.), a memory enhancing herb. The Scientific World Journal. 2014;Article ID 824586, 6 pages.
23. Padmaja K, Prasad DDK, Prasad ARK. Inhibition of chlorophyll synthesis in Phaseolus vulgaris L. seedlings by cadmium acetate. Photosynthetica. 1990;24:399-405.
24. Van Assche F, Clijsters H. Effects of metals on enzyme activity in plants. Plant Cell Environ. 1990;13:195-206.

25. Küpper H, Küpper F, Spiller M. In situ detection of heavy metal substitution chlorophylls in water plants. Photosynth Res. 1998;58:123-133.

26. Küpper H, Küpper F, Spiller M. Environmental relevance of heavy metal substituted chlorophylls using the example of water plants. J Exp Bot. 1996;47:259-266.
27. Prasad MNV, Strzalka K. Impact of Heavy Metals on Photosynthesis. In: Prasad MNV, Hagemeyer J (eds.) Heavy Metal Stress in Plants: from Molecules to Ecosystems, Springer-Verlag Publication, 1999, pp. 177-198.
28. Baryla A, Carrier P, Franck F, Coulomb C, Sahut C, Havaux M. Leaf chlorosis in oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus) grown on cadmium-polluted soil: causes and consequences for photosynthesis and growth. Planta. 2001;212:696-709.

29. Benavides MP, Gallego SM, Tomaro ML. Cadmium toxicity in plants. Braz J Plant Physiol. 2005;17:21-34.

30. Ericson MC, Alfinito AE. Proteins produced during salt stress in tobacco cell cultures. Plant Physiol. 1984;74:506-509.
31. Anayat M, Agnihotri RK, Vamli R, Kumar S, Sharma R. Role of Cd and Hg on biochemical contents of fennel and its reduction by exogenous treatment of nitrogen.  Int J Sci Res Pub. 2014;4(3):1-6. 
32. Palma JM, Sandalio LM, Javier Corpas F, Romero-Puertas MC, McCarthy I, Del Rio LA. Plant proteases, protein degradation and oxidative stress: role of peroxisomes. Plant Physiol Biochem. 2002;40:521–530.
33. John P, Ahmad P, Gadgil K, Sharma S. Heavy metal toxicity: Effect on plant growth, biochemical parameters and metal accumulation by Brassica juncea L. Int J Plant Prod. 2009;3:65-76.
34. Atesi I, Suzen HS, Aydin A, Karakaya A. The oxidative DNA base damage in tests of rats after intraperitoneal cadmium injection. Biometals. 2004;17:371-377.
35. Pál M, Horváth E, Janda T, Páldi E, Szalai G. Physiological changes and defense mechanisms induced by cadmium stress in maize. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci. 2006;169:239-246.
36. Gardea-Torresdey JL, Peralta-Videa JR, Montes M, de la Rosa G, Corral-Diaz B. Bioaccumulation of cadmium, chromium and copper by Convolvulus arvensis L.: impact on plant growth and uptake of nutritional elements. Bioresource Technol. 2004; 92:229-235.
37. Romero-Puertas MC, Corpas FJ, Rodríguez-Serrano M, Gόmez M, del Río LA, Sandalio LM. Differential expression and regulation of antioxidative enzymes by cadmium in pea plants. Plant Physiol. 2007;164:1346-1357.
38. Monteiro MS, Santos C, Soares A, Mann RM. Assessment of biomarkers of cadmium stress in lettuce. Ecotox Environ Safe. 2009;72:811-818.
39. Muthuchelian K, Bertamini M, Nedunchezhian N. Triacontanol can protect Erythrina variegata from cadmium toxicity. Plant Physiol. 2001;158:1487-1490.