Reduction of Dimethylarsenate to Highly Toxic Dimethylarsenite in Paddy Soil and Rice Plants

Dimethylarsenate [DMAs(V)] is a common methylated As species in soils and plants and can cause the physiological disorder straighthead disease in rice. Because DMAs(V) is relatively noncytotoxic, we hypothesize that phytotoxicity of DMAs(V) may arise from trivalent dimethylarsenite [DMAs(III)]. DMAs(III) has been detected in human urine samples but not in environmental samples, likely due to its instability under oxic conditions. We first established methods for preservation and detections of DMAs(III) in soil and plant samples. We showed that DMAs(III) was a major As species in soil solution from an anoxic paddy soil. Enrichment cultures for fermentative, sulfate-reducing, and denitrifying bacteria from the paddy soil could reduce DMAs(V) to DMAs(III). Twenty-two strains of anaerobic bacteria isolated from the soil showed some ability to reduce DMAs(V). Rice plants grown in hydroponic culture with DMAs(V) also showed the ability to reduce DMAs(V) to DMAs(III). Rice plants and grains grown in a flooded paddy soil contained both DMAs(V) and DMAs(III); their concentrations were higher in the spikelets with straighthead disease than those without. DMAs(III) was much more toxic to the protoplasts isolated from rice plants than DMAs(V). Taken together, the ability to reduce DMAs(V) to highly toxic DMAs(III) is common to soil anaerobes and rice plants.

Automated summary

Dimethylarsenate (DMAs(V)) is a common arsenic species in soils and plants that can cause straighthead disease in rice. This study found that the phytotoxicity of DMAs(V) may be due to the presence of the more toxic trivalent dimethylarsenite (DMAs(III)), which can be produced by anaerobic bacteria and rice plants.