title: Exogenous proline mediates alleviation of cadmium stress by promoting photosynthetic activity, water status and antioxidative enzymes activities of young date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.).
abstract: The ability of exogenous compatible solutes, such as proline, to counteract cadmium (Cd) inhibitory effects in young date palm plants (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv Deglet Nour) was investigated. Two-year-old date palm plants were subjected for five months at different Cd stress levels (0, 10 and 30 mg CdCl2 kg(-1) soil) whether supplied or not with exogenous proline (20mM) added through the irrigation water. Different levels of Cd stress altered plant growth, gas exchanges and chlorophyll content as well as water status, but at different extent among them. In contrast, an increase of antioxidant enzymes activities of Cd-treated plants in association with high amounts of proline content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and electrolyte leakage (EL) were observed. Interestingly, exogenous proline mitigated the adverse effects of Cd on young date palm. Indeed, it alleviated the oxidative damage induced by Cd accumulation and established better levels of plant growth, water status and photosynthetic activity. Moreover, proline-treated plants showed high antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxydase) in roots and leaves as compared to Cd-treated plants.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity and Dynamics of Ecosystems in Arid Area, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia; Laboratory of Improvement of Olive Productivity and Fruit Trees, Olive Tree Institute of Sfax, Tunisia; University of Limoges, Faculty of Pharmacy, FR 3503 GEIST, GRESE EA 4330 - Laboratory of Botany and Cryptogamy, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France. Electronic address: mohamedzouari2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity and Dynamics of Ecosystems in Arid Area, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia; Laboratory of Improvement of Olive Productivity and Fruit Trees, Olive Tree Institute of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Ben Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zorrig
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity and Dynamics of Ecosystems in Arid Area, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elloumi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabhi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Sciences of Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226, University of Rennes 1, 2 Avenue of Professor Léon Bernard, F-35043 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delmail
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Improvement of Olive Productivity and Fruit Trees, Olive Tree Institute of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ben Rouina
authors.affiliation: University of Limoges, Faculty of Pharmacy, FR 3503 GEIST, GRESE EA 4330 - Laboratory of Botany and Cryptogamy, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France. Electronic address: pascal.labrousse@unilim.fr.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Labrousse
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity and Dynamics of Ecosystems in Arid Area, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D065749:Phoeniceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D011392:Proline / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014416:Tunisia; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002104:Cadmium; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D011392:Proline; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Cadmium; Date palm; Exogenous proline; Oxidative stress; Photosynthesis