THE PROMOTIVE ROLE of ALGAL BIOFERTILIZER on the GROWTH of MAIZE (Zea Mays L.) SEEDLINGS UNDER CADMIUM-STRESS
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Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, May - 2014; Volume – 2(2S) Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences http://www.jebas.org ISSN No. 2320 – 8694 THE PROMOTIVE ROLE OF ALGAL BIOFERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) SEEDLINGS UNDER CADMIUM-STRESS Hanan M Abou- Zeid Botany & Microbiology department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt Received – April 26, 2014; Revision – May 09, 2014, Accepted – May 20, 2014 Available Online – May 31, 2014. KEYWORDS ABSTRACT Cadmium 2+ The influence of various cadmium (Cd ) levels in absence and presence of algal biofertilizer on the growth, photosynthesis, and mineral contents of maize plants was examined. Cd2+ caused an inhibitory Biofertilizer effect on growth parameters of shoots and roots leading to lower tolerance index. Application of Cd 2+ in the nutrient medium in absence of biofertilizer suppressed the photosynthetic parameters (Fv/Fm, qP, Photosynthetic parameters Pn, NPQ, and Gs) resulting in a marked decline of photosynthetic rate. Cadmium interferes with the Macronutrients uptake, transport and utilization of several macro- and micronutrients, which accounts, at least in part, for Cd2+ toxicity in plants. There was a marked reduction in the accumulation of macronutrient such as 2+ Maize (Zea mays) K, Ca, Mg, and P in the roots and shoots. Supplementation of algal biofertilizer with Cd - contaminated medium resulted in shift off the Cd2+ toxicity and improved to some extent the growth and photosynthetic machinery, as well as increased the intracellular macro-nutrients such as K, Ca, Mg, and P in maize plants. * Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] (Hanan M. Abou- Zeid) Peer review under responsibility of Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences. Production and Hosting by Horizon Publisher (www.my-vision.webs.com/horizon.html). All _________________________________________________________rights reserved. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences http://www.jebas.org 257 Abou - Zeid 1 Introduction The healthy, homogenous grains of corn (Zea mays) were Heavy metal contamination is responsible for limiting crop purchased from the International Research Center, El-Dokki, productivity in agricultural lands (Smith, 2009). These heavy Giza, Egypt. Collected seeds were surface sterilized by 0.1% metals can enter the roots and translocated to the shoot via sodium hypochlorite solution for 5 min and then rinsed several xylem elements (Lux et al., 2011).Cadmium consider as a toxic times with distilled water. The sterilized grains were allowed metal because of its relatively high mobility in the soil–plant to germinate in Petri dishes for 24h. The germinated grains system (Benavides et al., 2005; Groppa et al., 2012). It is were transferred to plastic pots filled with clay sandy soil (1:3). responsible for, causing an oxidative stress and disruption of The seed inoculated pots were divided into four sets. The first membrane composition and functioning (Gratao et al., 2009; set was irrigated with half strength Hoagland solution Gallego et al., 2012).Furthermore it is responsible for the (Hoagland & Arnon, 1950) and consider as control. The disturbances of several physiological processes, such as second set was irrigated with half strength Hoagland solution -1 photosynthesis, water relations, uptake, transport and supplied with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg L CdCl2. The third set was utilization of several macro- and micronutrients (Lopez- irrigated with half strength Hoagland supplied with 1mlL-1 Chuken & Young 2010; Gill et al., 2012; Li et al., 2012). super blue green biofertilizer (Nostoc and Anabaena sp) which According to Rivetta et al. (1997) and Sanità di Toppi & is produced by biofertilizers unit, General Organization of Gabbrielli (1999) uptake of Cd ions takes place in competition Agriculture Equalization Fund, Agriculture Research Centre, with the various essential elements such as K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Ministry of Agriculture, Giza, Egypt. The fourth set was Cu, Zn, and Ni, across the same transmembrane carrier. In irrigated with half strength Hoagland solution supplied with 1, -1 -1 addition Liu et al. (2003) concluded that, there was a 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg L CdCl2 and supplemented with 1mlL complicated relationship between the absorption and super blue green biofertilizer. The pots (in triplicates) were accumulation of Cd2+ and other mineral nutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn, incubated in natural environmental conditions. After 15-days, Cu, and Mg) in rice plants. Moreover, cadmium inhibits from the starting of experiment, homologous samples were photosynthesis and interferes in the biosynthesis of taken, washed by distilled water, and then divided into roots chlorophyll. Furthermore, it is responsible for the degradation and shoots for estimation of fresh and dry biomass and shoot of chlorophyll and responsible for affecting many other height. photosynthetic processes (Joshi & Mohanty 2004; Parmar et al., 2013). 2.2 Photosynthetic pigments contents Biofertilizers are the products which containing living cells of Chlorophyll a (Chl. a), chlorophyll b (Chl. b), and carotenoids different origins including microorganisms that have the ability (Carot.) content were estimated according to the method to mobilize nutritionally important elements from non-usable described by Lichtenthaler (1987). forms (Chen, 2006). Mishra & Dash (2014) reported that biofertilizers have a great potential as supplementary, 2.3 Chlorophyll fluorescence renewable and environmental friendly sources of plant nutrients and are an important component of integrated nutrient Measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence were performed by management. Cyanobacteria or blue green algae are OS-30P pulse modulated chlorophyll fluorimeter (Opti- microalgae suggested to have some added advantages over sciences, Hudson, USA). Before every measurement, leaves other microorganisms because of their larger surface area, were dark- adapted for 30 min with leaf-clips. Photosynthetic great mucilage volume with high binding affinity and simple rate was measured with ADC portable LCi Ultra Compact. nutrient requirements (Anjana et al., 2007). Gardea-Torresdey (Moradi & Ismail, 2007). et al. (1990) reported that cyanobacterial cells may respond to metals such as copper, lead and cadmium through passive 2.4 Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique, accumulation in cells, and played an important role in the Instrumentation and sample analysis removal of harmful metals from the environment. Moreover, Sikander et al. (1995) and Aziz & Hashem (2004) stated that Dried plant material (shoots and roots) were grinded into fine cynobacteria are used as biofertilizers which enhanced the powder. About 300 mg of each sample were pelletized using a growth of higher plants like wheat, rice, maize, vegetables and SPECAC press with a 2 tons/cm2 pressure for produce an certain medicinal plants. The main objective of this study was intermediate thick pellet sample. The pellets produced were to investigate the role of cynobacterial (Nostoc sp and kept in desiccators for at least 24 h to get rid of the moisture Anabaena sp) biological fertilizer in alleviating the inhibitory contents. The irradiation was done using an EDXRF effect of Cd2+ on the growth, photosynthetic characteristics, spectrometer at the XRF special unit of Electron Microscope, and nutrient composition in maize plant. Faculty of Science, Alexandria University. Link ISIS analyzer programmed attached with Scanning Electron Microscope 2 Materials and Methods (SEM) was employed for the data collection. Three irradiations were made for each sample, for a spectrum collection life time 2.1 Plant materials and various treatments of 1500 s. Linear least squares fitting of the AXIL software _________________________________________________________ Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences http://www.jebas.org The promotive role of algal biofertilizer on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings under cadmium-stress. 258 programmed was used for the spectrum deconvolution (IAEA, However, at lower Cd2+ concentration (1mgL-1), the measured 2005). growth parameters were insignificantly changed compared to control. There was a marked decrease of tolerance index (TI) 2.5 Statistical analysis for fresh and dry mass and shoot height indicating that Cd2+ exerted an inhibitory impact on the growth of maize plants Based on the data obtained from the experiment, the results (Table 1). At 5mgL-1 Cd2+ TI values were 33% and 63% for presented are the mean ± standard deviation (SD) gained from fresh and dry mass respectively, and 35% for shoot height. at least three replicate samples using Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Statistical analysis by the least significant difference Application of biofertilizer to the Cd2+ - contaminated soil (LSD) for multiple comparisons, taking P ≤ 0.05 as significant, resulted in a positive increase of measured growth parameters was calculated by SPSS 13.0. compared to only Cd2+- contaminated treatments. Addition of the biofertilizer with 2mgL-1 Cd2+ - contaminated soil increased 3 Results the fresh and dry masses of shoots to approximately the level of the control. At the highest Cd2+ level (5mgL-1) the reduction Exposing of maize plants to various concentrations of Cd2+ percentages of the fresh biomass of shoots and roots were 67% resulted in a significant reduction of fresh and dry biomass as and 83% respectively comparing to the control well as shoot height (P≤0.05).