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Changes in the levels of phytochelatins and related metal-binding peptides in chickpea seedlings exposed to arsenic and different heavy metal ions

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Abstract

Phytochelatin-related peptides were analyzed in chickpea plants exposed to six different heavy-metal ions. Cadmium and arsenic stimulated phytochelatin and homophytochelatin synthesis in roots but other metals did not. These metals, however, caused an overall increase in the precursors, glutathione, homoglutathione and cysteine. These changes may be different biochemical indexes for heavy-metal contamination.

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Fig. 1A, B
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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by a grant for Environmental Research from the Sumitomo Foundation to M.I. D.K.G. is thankful to Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Foundation for sponsoring his visit to Ehime University, Japan during 2001.

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Author notes

  1. Dharmendra K. Gupta

    Present address: Ecotoxicology and Bioremediation Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan

    Dharmendra K. Gupta, Hiroshi Tohoyama, Masanori Joho & Masahiro Inouhe

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  1. Dharmendra K. Gupta
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  2. Hiroshi Tohoyama
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  3. Masanori Joho
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  4. Masahiro Inouhe
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Correspondence to Masahiro Inouhe.

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Gupta, D.K., Tohoyama, H., Joho, M. et al. Changes in the levels of phytochelatins and related metal-binding peptides in chickpea seedlings exposed to arsenic and different heavy metal ions. J Plant Res 117, 253–256 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-004-0152-8

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