Publication Details
Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/nph.13840
Title (Primary) Cadmium toxicity investigated at the physiological and biophysical levels under environmentally relevant conditions using the aquatic model plant Ceratophyllum demersum
Author Andresen, E.; Kappel, S.; Stärk, H.-J.; Riegger, U.; Borovec, J.; Mattusch, J.; Heinz, A.; Schmelzer, C.E.H.; Matoušková, Š.; Dickinson, B.; Küpper, H.
Source Titel New Phytologist
Year 2016
Department ANA
Volume 210
Issue 4
Page From 1244
Page To 1258
Language englisch
Supplements https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fnph.13840&file=nph13840-sup-0001-SupInfo.pdf
https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fnph.13840&file=nph13840-sup-0002-TableS1.xlsx
Keywords cadmium (Cd); Ceratophyllum demersum ; environmentally relevant; light-harvesting complexes (LHCs); macrophyte; toxic metals; toxicity
UFZ wide themes RU2;
Abstract
  • Cadmium (Cd) is an important environmental pollutant and is poisonous to most organisms. We aimed to unravel the mechanisms of Cd toxicity in the model water plant Ceratophyllum demersum exposed to low (nM) concentrations of Cd as are present in nature.
  • Experiments were conducted under environmentally relevant conditions, including nature-like light and temperature cycles, and a low biomass to water ratio. We measured chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence kinetics, oxygen exchange, the concentrations of reactive oxygen species and pigments, metal binding to proteins, and the accumulation of starch and metals.
  • The inhibition threshold concentration for most parameters was 20 nM. Below this concentration, hardly any stress symptoms were observed. The first site of inhibition was photosynthetic light reactions (the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre measured as Fv/Fm, light-acclimated PSII activity ΦPSII, and total Chl). Trimers of the PSII light-harvesting complexes (LHCIIs) decreased more than LHC monomers and detection of Cd in the monomers suggested replacement of magnesium (Mg) by Cd in the Chl molecules. As a consequence of dysfunctional photosynthesis and energy dissipation, reactive oxygen species (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) appeared.
  • Cadmium had negative effects on macrophytes at much lower concentrations than reported previously, emphasizing the importance of studies applying environmentally relevant conditions. A chain of inhibition events could be established.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=17932
Andresen, E., Kappel, S., Stärk, H.-J., Riegger, U., Borovec, J., Mattusch, J., Heinz, A., Schmelzer, C.E.H., Matoušková, Š., Dickinson, B., Küpper, H. (2016):
Cadmium toxicity investigated at the physiological and biophysical levels under environmentally relevant conditions using the aquatic model plant Ceratophyllum demersum
New Phytol. 210 (4), 1244 - 1258 10.1111/nph.13840