Effect of cobalt chloride on soybean seedlings subjected to cadmium stress

Contamination of the environment with heavy metals such as Cd is a serious problem of modern world. Exposure of plants to Cd leads to oxidative stress, inhibition of respiration and photosynthesis, increased rate of mutation and, as a consequence, stunted growth and yield decrease. One of the common reactions of plants to cadmium stress is over-production of ethylene, however the exact role of this hormone in plants response to Cd is still unrecognized. The aim of the present study is evaluation of the impact of an ethylene synthesis inhibitor, Co, on the response of soybean seedlings to cadmium stress. The experiments included measurements of growth, cell viability, ethylene production and expression of genes associated with cellular signaling in soybean seedlings exposed to CdCl2 (with Cd in a concentration of 223 μM) and/or CoCl2 (with Co in concentration of 4.6 μM). Surprisingly, the results show that Co has no effect on ethylene biosynthesis, however, it affects cell viability and expression of Cd-induced genes associated with plant signaling pathways. The affected genes encode mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase2 (MAPKK2), nitrate reductase and DOF1 and bZIP2 transcription factors. The role of Co in plants response to cadmium stress and its potential use as an ethylene inhibitor is discussed.