title: The growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant defense responses of five vegetable crops to phenanthrene stress.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are global environmental problem. To better understand the growth and physiological responses to atmospheric PAHs, we investigated biomass, photosynthetic machinery and antioxidant system in pakchoi, cucumber, flowering chinese cabbage, tomato and lettuce under various levels of phenanthrene (PHE) stress. Foliar exposure to PHE for 14d resulted in a dose dependent decrease in growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll contents. With few exceptions, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, guaicol peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) were upregulated following exposure to PHE. Dose dependent increase in malondialdehyde contents together with H(2)O(2) accumulation suggested an occurrence of oxidative stress following PHE exposure. However, to some extent, growth and antioxidant defense responses differ from species to species. Difference in defense capacity might result in different tolerance and phytotoxicity among the studied vegetables. Taken together, phytotoxicity of PHE to five vegetables could be sequenced in the following order: pakchoi>cucumber>lettuce>tomato>flowering chinese cabbage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Yu Hang Tang Road 866, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
authors.forename: Golam Jalal
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ahammed
authors.forename: Meng-Meng
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiao-Jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jing-Quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014675:Vegetables / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll; C031181:phenanthrene; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010544:Peroxidases; D060387:Ascorbate Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase