Sulphide utilization and injuries in hypoxic roots and rhizomes of common reed (Phragmites australis)

The presented investigations have been carried out in order to estimate toxic sulphide levels and to examine detoxification capabilities in roots and rhizomes of the common reed (Phragmites australis). Underground organs of common reed are sensitive towards sulphide above 1 mM applied exogenously under hypoxia. However, certain tolerance may be achieved by sulphide detoxification. Accumulated sulphide is partially used for the synthesis of npn-toxic thiols, mainly glutathione: But the detoxification capacity of the fw in roots and 300 underground organs is limited. Maximum concentrations of thiols are about 60 nmol/g(-1) nmol/g(-1) fw in rhizomes. Energy metabolism is considerably affected by low sulphide concentrations of 1 mM for 4 days, and immediately disturbed by increased concentrations up to 6 mM sulphide. Adenylate energy charge, total adenylates, posthypoxic respiration, and fermentation capacity decrease significantly. Roots are more sensitive than rhizomes

Copper- and iron-induced injuries in roots and rhizomes of reed (Phragmites australis)

About 1 mg/g dw Cu2+ and 8 mg/g dw Fe2+ were found in roots of reed plants when fed with heavy metal concentrations of 100 μM Cu2+ and 10 mM Fe2+ under hypoxia. Roots seemed to act as a kind of filter since the amounts in rhizomes were only 0.06 mg Cu2+/g dw and 2 mg Fe2+/g dw. Increased contents of both ions reduced posthypoxic respiration capacity by 40–50% and also the sum of adenylates (ATP, ADP, AMP) by the same order of magnitude, although energy charge values remained above 0.85 in Cu2+ and 0.79 in Fe2+ treatments. Energy metabolism of rhizomes was not affected. Copper and iron contents of roots as well as of rhizomes were high enough to induce oxidative stress when roots were fed with 40 μM Cu2+ and 1 mM Fe2+, respectively. From our results we conclude that increased, but environmentally attainable, amounts of copper and reduced iron ions disturb root energy metabolism, and therefore root functioning and development. Latent injuries, based on oxidative stress, may be harmful for roots and rhizomes under long term exposure