Tetracycline stress disturbs the mobilization of protein bodies in seed storage reserves during radicle elongation after seed germination

Residues of antibiotics in the soil can have adverse effects on crop plants related closely to humans. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the phytotoxicity of antibiotics to sensitive species. The aim of our study was mainly to reveal tetracycline stress on the mobilization of seed storage proteins, lipids, and minerals of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) during radicle elongation after germination. The Chinese cabbage seed was incubated for 48 h in tetracycline solutions at 1 and 5 μM. For the cotyledons of the seed, the result of TEM showed that tetracycline significantly hindered the mobilization of protein bodies, which was in line with the result of FTIR spectroscopy. However, the mobilization of oil bodies and mineral bodies in cotyledons was not significantly disturbed by the stress of tetracycline, as well as the energy supply in different organs including the cotyledons, hypocotyl, and radicle of the seed. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the disturbance on mobilization of protein bodies in seed storage reserves caused by the stress of tetracycline at low levels during radicle elongation after germination.