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Effects of Mn and Cd and Their Combination on Growth and Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Elodea nutttallii
  
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KeyWord:Mn2+; Cd2+; combined stress; Elodea nutttallii; growth; physiological and biochemical characteristics
Author NameAffiliation
LONG Rui School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China 
ZHANG Ming School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China 
ZHANG Guang-sheng School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China 
CHENG Xiao-ying School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China 
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Abstract:
      Elodea nutttallii, an aquatic plant, has showed potential for ecological restoration of polluted water. Here, we examined chlorophyll, soluble protein, malondialdehyde(MDA), hydrogen peroxide(H2O2), and superoxide anion(O-2·)contents, and superoxide dismutase(SOD), peroxidase(POD)and catalase(CAT))activities in Elodea nutttallii under different Mn2+ and Cd2+ stresses for 7 days. Low concentrations of Mn2+ promoted contents of chlorophyll, soluble protein, MDA, H2O2 and O-2·, and stimulated activities of antioxidant enzymes. Under high concentrations of Mn2+, the chlorophyll and soluble protein contents and POD and CAT activities decreased, while MDA, H2O2 and O-2· contents and SOD activity increased. Under Cd2+ stresses, the chlorophyll and soluble protein contents decreased, showing a dose-response relationship; whereas MDA, H2O2 and O-2· significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes at low Cd2+ stresses but decreased at high Cd2+ concentrations. The CAT activity was greatest at 0.01 mg Cd·L-1, while the activities of SOD and POD were highest at 1 mg Cd·L-1. Compared with POD and CAT, SOD played greater protection under high concentrations of heavy metals. The combined effects of Mn2+ and Cd2+ on the plant were greater than their single. The synergy effects of Mn2+ and Cd2+ were observed under the high Mn2+ concentrations. In conclusion, Cd has greater stresses than Mn2+ on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the plant. Elodea nutttallii shows poorer resistance to Cd2+ than Mn2+ stresses.