title: Lead phytotoxicity on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed germination and seedlings growth.
abstract: Lead (Pb) is an environmental pollutant extremely toxic to plants and other living organisms including humans. To assess Pb phytotoxicity, experiments focusing on germination of wheat seeds were germinated in a solution containing Pb (NO(3))(2) (0.05; 0.1; 0.5; 1g/L) during 6 days. Lead accumulation in seedlings was positively correlated with the external concentrations, and negatively correlated with morphological parameters of plant growth. Lead increased lipid peroxidation, enhanced soluble protein concentrations and induced a significant accumulation of proline in roots. Esterase activity was enhanced in the presence of lead, whereas α-amylase activity was significantly inhibited. Antioxidant enzymes activities, such as, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase were generally significantly increased in the presence of lead in a dose-dependent manner. The present results thus provide a model system to screen for natural compounds able to counteract the deleterious effects of lead.
authors.affiliation: Équipe de recherche biotechnologies et génie des biomolécules, PER - centre des études environnementales méditerranéennes, faculté des sciences et techniques, université Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tangier, Morocco. mohamadi03@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamhamdi
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakrim
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aarab
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafont
authors.forename: Fouad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sayah
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009566:Nitrates; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007854:Lead; C017461:lead nitrate; D011392:Proline