Phytochelatin synthesis in response to elevated CO2 under cadmium stress in Lolium perenne L.

The increasing atmospheric CO(2) and heavy metal contamination in soil are two of the major environmental problems. Knowledge of the Cd stress coping mechanisms is needed to understand the regulation of the plants' metabolism under the increasing atmospheric CO(2) levels. Lolium perenne L. was grown hydroponically under two concentrations of atmospheric CO(2) (360 and 1000μLL(-1)) and six concentrations of cadmium (0-160μmolL(-1)) to investigate Cd uptake, Cd transportation, and variations in phytochelatin (PC) concentration. Cd concentrations in roots and shoots were decreased, but transport index (Ti) was increased under elevated CO(2) compared to ambient CO(2). Regardless of CO(2) concentrations, Cd and PC concentrations, especially the concentrations of high molecular weight PCs (PC(4), PC(5), PC(6)) were higher with increasing Cd concentration in growth media and longer Cd exposure time. Under the elevated CO(2), more high molecular weight PCs (PC(4), PC(5), PC(6)) in shoots and roots were synthesized compared to ambient CO(2), with higher SH:Cd ratio in roots as well. These results indicate that under elevated CO(2), L. perenne may be better protected against Cd stress with higher biomass, lower Cd concentration and better detoxification by phytochelatins.