title: Alleviation of chromium toxicity by hydrogen sulfide in barley.
abstract: A hydroponic experiment was carried out to examine the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) in alleviating chromium (Cr) stress in barley. A 2-factorial design with 6 replications was selected, including 3 levels of NaHS (0 μM, 100 μM, and 200 μM) and 2 levels of Cr (0 μM and 100 μM) as treatments. The results showed that NaHS addition enhances plant growth and photosynthesis slightly compared with the control. Moreover, NaHS alleviated the inhibition in plant growth and photosynthesis by Cr stress. Higher levels of NaHS exhibited more pronounced effects in reducing Cr concentrations in roots, shoots, and leaves. Ultrastructural examination of plant cells supported the facts by indication of visible alleviation of cell disorders in both root and leaf with exogenous application of NaHS. An increased number of plastoglobuli, disintegration, and disappearance of thylakoid membranes and starch granules were visualized inside the chloroplast of Cr-stressed plants. Starch accumulation in the chloroplasts was also noticed in the Cr-treated cells, with the effect being much less in Cr + NaHS-treated plants. Hence, it is concluded that H2 S produced from NaHS can improve plant tolerance under Cr stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shafaqat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Muhammad Ahsan
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.forename: Sabir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Tahira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasmeen
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Guoping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001467:Hordeum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018527:Hydroponics; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; C025451:sodium bisulfide; D011192:Potassium Dichromate; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Barley; Chloroplast ultrastructure; Chromium; Hydrogen sulfide; Photosynthesis