Responses of antioxidant enzymes and key resistant substances in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to cadmium and arsenic stresses

Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) exist simultaneously in soil environment, which poses a serious threat to the safety of agricultural products and forage production. Four Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars with different accumulation characteristics (ʻNicaraguaʼ, ʻVenusʼ, ʻExcellentʼ and ʻMonroʼ) were selected as the material for pot experiment. The coupled responses of key components and related enzyme activities under combined stresses of Cd and As were investigated. key components contents include Non protein sulfhydryl (NPT), glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs). The related enzyme includes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS), glutathione synthetase (GSS), phytochelatin synthetases (PCSase) and arsenate reductase (AR). The results showed that Cd contents of perennial ryegrass were higher than those of As contents with TF(Cd/As) < 1. Cd and As contents in roots were in the higher proportion than those in shoots. Compared to control, POD activities increased by 2.72 folds under 120 mg kg(−1) As treatment. The contents of PCs increased by 5.68 folds under 120 mg kg(−1) As treatment. Under combined Cd and As stress, the MDA contents and antioxidant enzyme activities of ʻVenusʼ were higher than those of ʻNicaraguaʼ. ʻNicaraguaʼ, a high accumulation cultivar. Under the combined stresses of Cd and As, the enzyme activities and the key components were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with the contents of Cd and As. The tolerance to Cd and As was improved with increase in GSH and PCs contents and γ-ECS, GSS, PCSase and AR activities. In conclusion, the antioxidant enzyme system and key resistant substances of perennial ryegrass have important and antagonistic effects on Cd and As stresses.