The influence of EDDS on the metabolic and transcriptional responses induced by copper in hydroponically grown Brassica carinata seedlings

To improve the knowledge about the use of plants for the removal of toxic metals from contaminated soils, metabolic and transcriptional responses of Brassica carinata to different forms of copper (Cu) were studied. Two-week-old hydroponically grown seedlings were exposed for 24 h to 30 μM CuSO4 or CuEDDS. CuSO4 appeared to be more toxic than CuEDDS as roots showed higher levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased relative leakage ratios (RLR), although the superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) activity increased following both exposures. In CuSO4-exposed seedlings the higher toxicity was underlined by increased transcription of lipoxygenases (EC 1.13.11.12) and NADPH oxidases (EC 1.6.99.6) and by the higher Cu accumulation in both tissues compared to CuEDDS exposure. The presence of EDDS increased Cu translocation, which resulted 5-times higher than when exposed to CuSO4. Decreases in catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) activities together with increases of reduced glutathione (GSH) and tocopherols and a reduction of lipoic acid (LA) were observed in roots of CuSO4-exposed seedlings. On the contrary, CuEDDS exposure induced a general increase in enzyme activities and decreases in ascorbate (AsA) and tocopherol levels. In the primary leaves, in both exposures Cu differently affected the oxidative stress responses indicating that the cellular redox balance was anyway maintained. EDDS plays a crucial role in B. carinata tolerance to oxidative stress induced by Cu and might be proposed to improve the efficiency of Cu phytoextraction.

► We studied the responses of Brassica carinata to CuSO4 or CuEDDS.
► The two exposures induced different metabolic and transcriptional responses.
► CuSO4 showed to be more cytotoxic than CuEDDS.
► Brassica carinata reacted positively to CuEDDS exposure.
► EDDS facilitated Cu uptake and increased root to shoot translocation of Cu.