The Effect of Sodium Hydrosulfite Pretreatment on Reducing the Stress Caused by Copper Toxicity in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Copper is an essential element for cell-based processes, but in high concentrations it is toxic for plants. Hydrogen sulfide is one of the most important signaling molecules that in involved in different processes of plant stress resistance. In order to investigate the effect of Sodium hydrosulfide pretreatment on reducing copper damages in soybean, a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in the laboratory of Kerman University of Shahid Bahonar in 2015. The experiment included two factors: Sodium hydrosulfide (its presence or absence) and different concentrations of CuSO4 (0, 100, & 200 μM). The results showed that an increase in copper concentration in the nutrient solution reduced the fresh weight and Chlorophyll content in soybean plants while the amount of MDA, proline, and hydrogen peroxide increased. The fresh weight, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugar, and reduced glutathione increased in plants pretreated with Sodium hydrosulfide; whereas their malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and proline decreased. It can be concluded that hydrogen sulfide protects the plant against oxidative damage caused by the toxicity of copper by connecting with other signaling molecules, such as nitric oxide.