Neodymium improves the activity of ascorbate-glutathione cycle and chloroplast function of wheat seedlings under chromium stress

We investigated the roles of neodymium trichloride (NdCl3) in regulating ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle and chloroplast function of chromium (Cr)-stressed wheat seedlings. The findings showed that Cr stress markedly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, electrolytic leakage (EL), nonphotochemical quenching, and the activities of enzymes in AsA-GSH cycle, compared with control. However, Cr stress markedly reduced the ratios of reduced ascorbate to dehydroascorbate and reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione, net photosynthetic rate, the contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids, maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, photochemical quenching, and quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry, as well as plant height, root length, and plant biomass. NdCl3 plus Cr stress markedly reduced MDA content and EL and improved other indicators, compared with Cr stress alone. Meanwhile, NdCl3 alone also markedly improved above indicators except MDA and EL, compared with control. Current results implied that NdCl3 improved AsA-GSH cycle and chloroplast function of wheat seedlings under Cr stress.