Aluminium Stress on Germinating Seeds of Cicer Arietinum : Alterations in Growth, ROS Catabolism and Lipid-Protein Oxidation

Cicer arietinum (Gram) is an important protein rich pulse crop. The effect of Aluminium (Al) on radicle growth and biochemical markers of oxidative stress, viz, superoxide, H2O2, MDA, protein carbonyls and hydroperoxides as well as antioxidant enzymes were studied. These physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed in the growing radicles [1 and 4 days] of germinating Cicer arietinum seeds treated with 0.5 - 3.5 mM AlCl3. Results revealed that Al treatment causes severe inhibition on radicle growth. This growth inhibition was preceded by an excessive accumulation of ROS and resulting oxidized protein carbonyls and MDA formation. Also, the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, POX and APX were impaired. We conclude that excessive accumulation of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, MDA and protein carbonyls, markers of oxidative stress, due to simultaneous failure of ROS detoxification enzyme system is responsible for the inhibition of radicle growth of Cicer arietinum treated with Al salts.