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Nitrate nutrition enhances nickel accumulation and toxicity in Arabidopsis plants

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Abstract

Background and aims

Nickel (Ni) has become a major heavy metal contaminant. The form of nitrogen nutrition remarkably affects IRT1 expression in roots. IRT1 has an activity of transporting Ni2+ into root cells. Therefore, nitrogen-form may affect Ni accumulation and toxicity in plants. The assumption was investigated in this study.

Methods

The Arabidopsis plants were treated in Ni-contained growth solutions with either nitrate (NO3 −) or ammonium (NH4 +) as the sole N source. After 7-day treatments, Ni concentration, IRT1 expression, Ni-induced toxic symptoms and oxidative stress in plants were analyzed.

Results

The NO3 −-fed plants contained a higher Ni concentration, had a greater IRT1 expression in roots, and developed more severe toxic symptoms in the youngest fully expanded leaves, compared with the NH4 +-fed plants. The Ni-induced growth inhibition was also more significant in NO3 −-fed plants. Interestingly, Ni exposure resulted in greater hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide radical (O2 . −) accumulations, more severe lipid peroxidation and more cell death in NO3 −-fed plants, whereas the opposite was true for NH4 +-fed plants. Furthermore, the Ni-enhanced peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were greater in NO3 −-fed plants

Conclusion

NO3 − nutrition promotes Ni uptake, and enhances Ni-induced growth inhibition and oxidative stress in plants compared with NH4 + nutrition.

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Abbreviations

NH4 + :

ammonium

H2O2 :

hydrogen peroxide

MDA:

malondialdehyde

Ni:

nickel

NO3 − :

nitrate

O2 . − :

superoxide radical

POD:

peroxidase

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31270041), the Department of Science & Technology of Zhejiang Province (2011C22077). Innovation Research Training Programme of Zhejiang Province for College Students.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China

    Yan Hu, Nai Shan Wang, Xu Jun Hu, Xian Yong Lin, Ying Feng & Chong Wei Jin

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  1. Yan Hu
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  2. Nai Shan Wang
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  3. Xu Jun Hu
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  4. Xian Yong Lin
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  5. Ying Feng
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  6. Chong Wei Jin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chong Wei Jin.

Additional information

Yan Hu, Nai Shan Wang and Xu Jun Hu contributed equally to this work.

Responsible Editor: Juan Barcelo.

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Hu, Y., Wang, N.S., Hu, X.J. et al. Nitrate nutrition enhances nickel accumulation and toxicity in Arabidopsis plants. Plant Soil 371, 105–115 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1682-4

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