title: Contribution of phytochelatins to cadmium tolerance in peanut plants.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a well known heavy metal considered as one of the most toxic metals on Earth, affecting all viable cells that are exposed even at low concentration. It is introduced to agricultural soils mainly by phosphate fertilizers and causes many toxic symptoms in cells. Phytochelatins (PCs) are non-protein thiols which are involved in oxidative stress protection and are strongly induced by Cd. In this work, we analyzed metal toxicity as well as PCs implication on protection of peanut plants exposed to Cd. Results showed that Cd exposure induced a reduction of peanut growth and produced changes in the histological structure with a deposit of unknown material on the epidermal and endodermal cells. When plants were exposed to 10 μM Cd, no modification of chlorophyll, lipid peroxides, carbonyl groups, or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content was observed. At this concentration, peanut leaves and roots glutathione (GSH) content decreased. However, peanut roots were able to synthesize different types of PCs (PC2, PC3, PC4). In conclusion, PC synthesis could prevent metal disturbance on cellular redox balance, avoiding oxidative damage to macromolecules.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 Km 601, 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianucci
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobrino-Plata
authors.forename: Ramón O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Carpena-Ruiz
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Carmen Tordable
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabra
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D010367:Arachis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D054811:Phytochelatins / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D002104:Cadmium; D054811:Phytochelatins