Impact of arsenate stress on maize zea mays l evaluation of oxidative damage and mirna mediated stress response

Abstract

newline Arsenic (As) contamination of soil and ground water poses serious threat to agricultural newlinefood production. Arsenic is a toxic metalloid and has been listed in the category of Group-A newlinecarcinogen according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Both organic newlineand inorganic forms of arsenic are found in the biosphere and the most common valence newlinestates of arsenic ranges from -3 to +5. The different valence states of arsenic are -3 (arsine), newline0 (elemental arsenic), +3 (arsenite) and +5 (arsenate). Arsenite (AsIII) predominantly newlinefound under the reducing environments while arsenate (AsV) is the dominant species in newlineoxygenated environments. Arsenic may enter into the biosphere by both natural newlinephenomenon and anthropogenic activities. It is now matter of a great concern for both newlinepublic health and agricultural purposes as As level in ground water often crossed the newlinerecommended safe level. Many countries from Latin America to Southeast Asia are affected newlineby naturally occurring arsenic in potable groundwater reservoir. The severity of As newlinecontaminated drinking water is unimaginably alarming for countries like India and newlineBangladesh. Many states of India e.g. West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar newlinePradesh, and Assam have problems of arsenic contaminated groundwater.