ALLEVIATION OF CADMIUM TOXICITY IN SOYBEAN BY POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTATION |
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| Authors: | Imran Haider Shamsi Lixi Jiang Kang Wei Ghulam Jilani Shuijin Hua Guo-Ping Zhang |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Agronomy , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, China;2. Institute of Crop Science , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, China;3. Institute of Crop Science , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, China;4. Department of Agronomy , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, China;5. Department of Soil Science , PMAS Arid Agriculture University , Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
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| Abstract: | This study was undertaken to determine the effect of potassium (K) on alleviating cadmium (Cd) toxicity in soybean. Two genotypes of soybean, namely ‘Liao 1’ and ‘Zhechun 3’ were used in hydroponics experiment with the following treatments: control without Cd addition; 1μM Cd addition; K supplementation at a rate of 380 mg L?1; and both Cd addition and K supplementation. Plant growth, chlorophyll content, and fluorescence, rate of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance reduced significantly in Cd-stressed plants. Meanwhile, Cd treatment increased malondialdehyde content, and activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzymes. Concentration of K, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn) in shoot and root tissues also reduced in Cd treatment. ‘Liao 1’ had higher, antioxidant enzyme activity than ‘Zhechun 3’. Potassium supplementation alleviated the reduction of growth, photosynthesis and nutrients uptake in Cd-treated plants. It was concluded that Cd toxicity could be alleviated through enhanced K nutrition in soybean. |
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| Keywords: | cadmium growth photosynthesis potassium soybean |
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