Tolerance of Silene vulgaris to copper: population-related comparison of selected physiological parameters

Tolerance of three Slovak populations of Silene vulgaris [from the localities "Harmanec" (total soil Cu 34.1 mg kg⁻¹), "Lubietová"; (total soil Cu 831.6 mg kg⁻¹) and "Špania dolina" (total soil Cu 1368.7 mg kg⁻¹) referred as SV1, SV2, and SV3, respectively] and Silene dioica (SD; from the locality "Špania dolina") exposed to 60 μM Cu for 7 days has been studied. Respective controls with 0.21 μM Cu were also cultured. SV3 and SD contained higher total shoot Cu than SV1. Methanol-soluble shoot Cu represented 60, 59, 59, and 55% from total shoot Cu and roots contained 16.7-, 20.4-, 9.9- and 28.9-fold more Cu than shoots in SV1, SV2, SV3, and SD, respectively. Soluble proteins were the least affected in SV3 and SD when Cu-exposed and control plants were compared. Root hydrogen peroxide and superoxide showed similar trend and were correlated with enhancement of ascorbate- and guaiacol-peroxidase activities. Malondialdehyde accumulation increased in SV1 and SV2. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and total soluble phenols were higher in SV3 Cu-exposed plants compared to SV1 and SV2. Shikimate dehydrogenase activity was enhanced in all Cu-exposed populations. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity and root lignin content were not affected and polyphenol oxidase activity was not detected. Within 14 detected free amino acids, majority of them decreased preferentially in the roots. Only serine increased in shoots and decreased in roots of all populations. Potassium content was not affected in SV3. Na, Ca, and Fe increased in roots of Cu-exposed plants of all populations, while Mg was the least affected and Zn increased in SV2 and SV3 shoots and roots. This study revealed the highest tolerance in population from the locality with the highest soil Cu content. Present findings as complex metabolic responses to Cu stress with special emphasis on phenolic metabolism are discussed.