Effect of Astaxanthin on the Growth and Resistance of Strawberry Seedling under Cadmium Stress

Astaxanthin; Strawberry Tissue culture seedlings; Cadmium stress; Resistant Abstract: In this experiment, we studied the effects of astaxanthin on the growth and resistance of strawberry tissue culture seedlings under the stress of heavy metal cadmium. Strawberry seedlings were planted in MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of astaxanthin and with 25 mg/L GdC12. The results showed that the content of chlorophyll increased and the content of MDA decreased in the strawberry plantlets treated with astaxanthin compared with the control. The activity of SOD, POD and CAT increased in astaxanthin treated plantlets with low concentration (5 mu mol/L similar to 100 mu mol/L), but decreased with high concentration. The content of vitamin C increased with astaxanthin treatment of 5 similar to 50 mu mol/L, and decreased with the treatment of 100 similar to 200 mu mol/L of astaxanthin. Meanwhile, astaxanthin treatment at 5 mu mol/L showed the best antioxidant activity. Thus, low concentrations of astaxanthin could alleviate the damage in strawberry tissue culture seedlings under the stress of heavy metal cadmium, but the high concentration of astaxanthin could not relieve the damage. According to the indexes, the optimal concentration of astaxanthin to alleviate cadmium stress is between 10 similar to 100 mu mol/L.