Soil concentration of trace metals is the most critical factor determining whether they have an inhibiting or a stimulating effect on to the growth and productivity of plants. The agricultural soils of the southern region of China are perniciously influenced by the excessive buildup of metals, including Cu, Zn and Pb. Since the bamboo plant is of considerable nutritional and financial importance for consumers and producers in the region, it is essential to assess how some vital enzymatic components of bamboo plants are impacted by the accentuated presence of heavy metals (HMs) in the rhizosphere. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effects of three HMs (Cu, Pb and Zn) at four different concentrations (0, 500, 1000, 2000 mg kg-1) on a single bamboo species (Indocalamus latifolius). For pre-experimental treatments, 2-year-old stands of the bamboo species  grown in pots were inoculated with the specified amounts of HMs for 60 days. Changes in the amounts of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) showed that the bamboo species had varied reaction to heavy metal (HM) stress. HM-treated bamboo experienced a significant rise in its enzymatic activity under all HM concentrations. This was more conspicuous when Indocalamus latifolius grew at the 500 mg kg-1 HMs level. However, the antioxidant activity at the elevated levels (1000 and 2000 mg kg-1) showed an erratic downward trend in comparison to the lowest HM concentration. Zn and Pb were found to be the strongest and the weakest inducer of antioxidant enzymes in the bamboo species, respectively. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was affected differently by HM toxicity. Pb triggered the highest accumulation of MDA and Zn was the heavy metal associated with the lowest MDA concentration. Overall, the results indicated that low levels of HMs led to the upregulation of the antioxidant activity in Indocalamus latifolius, whereas the activity of antioxidative enzymes was overwhelmed by the high levels of HMs.

23.1.2018