title: Hydrogen sulfide alleviates cadmium-induced morpho-physiological and ultrastructural changes in Brassica napus.
abstract: In the present study, role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in alleviating cadmium (Cd) induced stress in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was studied under greenhouse conditions. Plants were grown hydroponically under three levels (0, 100, and 500µM) of Cd and three levels (0, 100 and 200µM) of H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). Results showed that application of H2S significantly improved the plant growth, root morphology, chlorophyll contents, elements uptake and photosynthetic activity in B. napus plants under Cd stress. Moreover, addition of H2S reduced the Cd concentration in the leaves and roots of B. napus plants under Cd-toxicity. Exogenously applied H2S decreased the production of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species in the leaves and roots by improving the enzymatic antioxidant activities under Cd stress conditions. The microscopic examination indicated that application of exogenous H2S improved the cell structures and enabled a clean mesophyll cell having a well developed chloroplast with thylakoid membranes, and a number of mitochondria could be observed in the micrographs. A number of modifications could be found in root tip cell i.e. mature mitochondria, long endoplasmic reticulum and golgibodies under combined application of H2S and Cd. On the basis of these findings, it can be concluded that application of exogenous H2S has a protective role on plant growth, photosynthetic parameters, elements uptake, antioxidants enzyme activities and ultrastructural changes in B. napus under high Cd stress conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Basharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Rafaqat A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Muhammad B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shafaqat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rafiq
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: wjzhou@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Weijun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D029688:Brassica napus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018527:Hydroponics; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002104:Cadmium; D002734:Chlorophyll; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Cadmium; Hydrogen sulfide; Microscopic ultrastructures; Nutrients uptake; Oilseed rape; Plant growth