title: Osmoregulation and antioxidant production in maize under combined cadmium and arsenic stress.
abstract: An investigation was carried out to examine the combined and individual effects of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) stress on osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant activities, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production at different growth stages (45, 60, 75, 90 days after sowing (DAS)) of two maize cultivars viz., Dong Dan 80 and Run Nong 35. The Cd (100 μM) and As (200 μM) were applied separately as well as in combination (Cd + As) at 30 DAS. Results revealed pronounced variations in the behavior of antioxidants, osmolytes, and ROS in both maize cultivars under the influence of Cd and As stress. Activities of enzymatic (SOD, POD, CAT and APX, GPX, GR) and non-enzymatic (GSH and AsA) antioxidants, generation of ROS, and accumulation of osmolytes were enhanced with the passage of time; therefore, the maximum values for these attributes were observed at 90 DAS for both cultivars. Exposure of plants to Cd or As stress considerably enhanced the antioxidant activities, ROS, and osmolyte accumulation compared with control, while combined application of Cd + As was more devastating in reducing plant biomass of both maize cultivars. Among cultivars, Dong Dan 80 was better able to negate the heavy metal-induced oxidative damage, which was associated with higher antioxidant activities, greater osmolytes accumulation, and lower ROS production in this cultivar.
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.|Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shakeel Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.|School of Land and Food, University of Tamania, Hobart, Australia.|National Key Lab of Crop Genetics Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Mohsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanveer
authors.affiliation: National Key Lab of Crop Genetics Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.|College of Resource and Environment Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Saddam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Babar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
authors.forename: Umair
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: National Key Lab of Crop Genetics Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Shah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fahad
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bahadur Campus, Layyah, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: National Key Lab of Crop Genetics Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Farrukh
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia.
authors.forename: Ali Ahsan
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bajwa
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. wanglc@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Longchang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aqib
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: National Key Lab of Crop Genetics Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Rana Abdul
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Samad
authors.affiliation: National Key Lab of Crop Genetics Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Shahbaz Atta
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tung
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D064587:Osmoregulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010940:Plant Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Antioxidants; Heavy metals; Maize cultivars; Osmolytes accumulation; Reactive oxygen species