Effects of nickel on morpho-physiological parameters and oxidative status in Brassica napus cultivars under different sulphur levels

Increased levels of trace metals are an important problem of environmental pollution. Ni is one of the metals essential for normal plant development, but elevated levels usually cause deleterious effects on plant growth. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects sulphur nutrition on growth, oxidative status, and Ni bioaccumulation of Ni-treated rape (Brassica napus L.). Two different oilseed rape cultivars (Hammer and Compass) were grown under sulphur deficiency and under optimal S availability (0 and 1 mM sulphate, respectively) and exposed to 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mM Ni concentrations for 3 weeks. Exposure of plants to elevated Ni concentrations resulted in a decrease in the shoot and root biomass and chlorophyll content. The enhancement of Ni caused increased lipid peroxidation. The sulphur nutrition had an effect on the level of oxidative stress of Ni-treated plants-under the deficiency of sulphur the concentration of TBARS was significantly higher than under the optimal level of S. The beneficial effect of optimal sulphur nutrition was lower Ni accumulation in exposed plants but translocation of Ni was dependent on the cultivar.