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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 150-159.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2020411

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Mitigative effect of exogenous ascorbic acid on the growth of copper-stressed chicory (Cichorium intybus) seedlings

Long WANG1(), Jie FAN1, Chang WEI1, Ge-zi LI2, Jing-jing ZHANG1, Qiu-juan JIAO1, Guo CHEN3, Luan-zi SUN4, Hai-tao LIU1()   

  1. 1.College of Resources and Environment,Henan Agricultural University,Zhengzhou 450002,China
    2.College of Agronomy,Henan Agricultural University,Zhengzhou 450046,China
    3.College of Ecology and Environment,Chengdu University of Technology,Chengdu 610059,China
    4.College of Grassland Agriculture,Northwest A & F University,Xianyang 712100,China
  • Received:2020-09-07 Revised:2020-10-29 Online:2021-04-20 Published:2021-03-16
  • Contact: Hai-tao LIU

Abstract:

This research explored the mitigative effect of exogenously applied ascorbic acid (AsA) on the growth, Cu accumulation and physiological characteristics of chicory (Cichorium intybus) seedlings under copper stress (Cu-stress). Cu-stress was achieved by growing seedlings in hydproponic culture with 50 μmol·L-1 Cu2+ added to the culture solution. It was found that Cu-stress at 50 μmol·L-1 severely suppressed the chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis and biomass accumulation of the chicory seedlings. Cu-stress also increased the degree of cell membrane lipid peroxidation, and reduced soluble protein contents and the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. In contrast, exogenous AsA decreased the absorption and transport of Cu by the root system and ameliorated the damage of Cu-stress to chicory seedlings. Specifically, exogenous AsA increased the root system, shoot and total dry matter biomass, decreased the degradation of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid) and enhanced the photosynthetic parameters, reduced the damage of lipid peroxidation to the cell membrane, and enhanced the antioxidant activities, soluble protein levels and endogenous AsA concentration. These results provide reference data for the application of exogenous AsA in mitigating Cu toxicity to plants and enhancement of the Cu tolerance mechanism of chicory.

Key words: ascorbic acid, copper stress, chicory seedlings, physiological characteristics, mitigative effect