A significant positive correlation between endogenous trans-zeatin content and total arsenic in arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica var. nervosa.

Abstract A pot experiment was conducted to compare the content of endogenous trans -zeatin (Z), plant arsenic (As) uptake and physiological indices in the fronds of As-hyperaccumulator ( Pteris cretica var. nervosa ) and non-hyperaccumulator ( Pteris ensiformis ). Furthermore, a stepwise regression method was used to study the relationship among determined indices, and the time-course effect of main indices was also investigated under 100 mg/kg As stress with time extension. In the 100–200 mg/kg As treatments, plant height showed no significant difference and endogenous Z content significantly increased in P. cretica var. nervosa compared to the control, but a significant decrease of height and endogenous Z was observed in P. ensiformis . The concentrations of As (III) and As (V) increased significantly in the fronds of two plants, but this increase was much higher in P. cretica var. nervosa . Compared to the control, the contents of chlorophyll and soluble protein were significantly increased in P. cretica var. nervosa but decreased in P. ensiformis in the 200 mg/kg As treatment, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the contents of endogenous Z and total As in P. cretica var. nervosa , but such a correlation was not found in P. ensiformis . Additionally, in the time-course effect experiment, a peak value of each index was appeared in the 43rd day in two plants, except for chlorophyll in P. ensiformis , but this value was significantly higher in P. cretica var. nervosa than that in P. ensiformis . In conclusion, a higher endogenous Z content contributed to As accumulation of P. cretica var. nervosa under As stress.