Effects of arsenic on seed germination and physiological activities of wheat seedlings

The effects of arsenic (As) were investigated on seed germination, root and shoot length and their biomass and some other factors to elucidate the toxicity of As. The results showed low concentrations of As (0-1 mg/kg) stimulated seed germination and the growth of root and shoot, however, these factors all decreased gradually at high concentrations of As (5-20 mg/kg). The contents of O2*-, MDA, soluble protein and peroxidase (POD) activity all increased with increasing As concentrations. Soluble sugar content, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities decreased at low concentrations of As, and increased at high concentrations of As. While acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and chlorophyll contents, catalase (CAT) activity displayed increasing trend when the concentrations of As was lower than 1 mg/kg, and then decreasing trend. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), As induced the expression of POD isozymes of wheat seedlings. As induced the expression of CAT isozymes but inhibited the expression of SOD isozymes of wheat seedlings at concentrations lower than 1 mg/kg. However, As inhibited the expression of CAT isozymes but induced the expression of SOD isozymes at concentrations higher than 5 mg/kg. The results indicated As could exert harmfulness in the early development stage of wheat at inappropriate concentrations.