Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural Changes in Radish Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium

  • Published:
Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Redondo Vermelho) seedlings were analysed by light and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the structural changes caused by the exposure to 0.5 or 1.0 mM cadmium chloride for 24, 48 and 72 h. The analyses showed changes in the anatomical and morphological characteristics of roots, stems and leaves of two-week-old seedlings. In all tissues, pressure potential was decreased. Premature death with the disintegration of the epidermis and an increase in the number of root hairs was observed in roots exposed to Cd. The stem of seedlings exposed to Cd exhibited more cells layers in the cambial region. The main effects observed in leaves in response to Cd were stomatal closure, lack of cell wall thickening and alterations in the shape of the chloroplasts. It is suggested that the structural changes observed in seedlings treated with Cd were mainly caused by a Cd-induced decrease in water uptake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Azevedo, R.A., Alas, R.M., Smith, R.J., Lea, P.J.: Response of antioxidant enzymes to transfer from elevated carbon dioxide to air and ozone fumigation, in the leaves and roots of wild-type and a catalase-deficient mutant of barley.-Physiol. Plant. 104: 280–292, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barceló. J., Poschenrieder. C.: Plant water relations as affected by heavy-metals stress.-J. Plant Nutr. 13: 1–37. 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann, H., Machelett. B., Lippmann, B., Friedrich, Y.: Influence of heavy metals on the accumulation of trimethylglycine, putrescine and spermine in food plants.-Amino Acids 20: 325–329, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boussama, N., Ouariti, O., Ghorbal, M.H.: Changes in growth and nitrogen assimilation in barley seedlings under cadmium stress.-J. Plant Nutr. 22: 731–752, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardoso, P.F., Molina, S.M.G., Pereira, G.J.G., Vitória, A.P., Azevedo, R.A.: Response of rice inbred lines to cadmium exposure.-J. Plant Nutr. 25: 927–944, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, R.R., Fornazier, R.F., Vitória, A.P., Lea, P.J., Azevedo, R.A.: Changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in soybean under cadmium stress.-J. Plant Nutr. 25: 327–342, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornazier, R.F., Ferreira, R.R., Pereira, G.J.G., Molina, S.M.G., Smith, R.J., Lea, P.J., Azevedo, R.A.: Cadmium stress in sugar cane callus cultures: Effects on antioxidant enzymes.-Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult. 71: 125–131, 2002b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornazier. R.F., Ferreira. R.R., Vitória, A.P., Molina, S.M.G., Lea. P.J., Azevedo. R.A.: Effects of cadmium on antioxidant enzyme activities in sugar cane.-Biol. Plant. 41: 91–97. 2002a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guelfi. A., Azevedo, R.A., Lea, P.J., Molina, S.M.G.: Growth inhibition of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans by cadmium: an antioxidant enzyme approach.-J. gen. appl. Microbiol. 49: 63–74, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart. J.J., Welch, R.M., Norvell, W.A., Sullivan, L.A., Kochian, L.V.: Characterization of cadmium binding, uptake, and translocation in intact seedlings of bread and durum wheat cultivars.-Plant Physiol. 116: 1413–1420, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoagland, D.R., Arnon, D.I.: The water culture method of growing plants without soil.-Calif. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 347: 1–39. 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hófgen, R., Kreft. O., Willmitzer, L., Hesse. H.: Manipulation of thiol contents in plants.-Amino Acids 20: 291–299, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnowsky, M.J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolarity for use in electron microscopy.-J. Cell Biol. 27: 137A, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • KevreSan, S., KirSek, S., Kandraó, J., PetroviC, N., Kelemen, Dj.: Dynamics of cadmium distribution in the intercellular space and inside cells in soybean roots, stems and leaves.-Biol. Plant. 46: 85–88, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan, D.H., Duckett, B., Frankland, B., Kirkham, J.B.: An X-ray microanalytical study of the distribution of cadmium in roots of Zea mays L.-J. Plant Physiol. 115: 19–28, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kupper, H., Lombi, E., Zhao, F.J., McGrath, S.P.: Cellular compartmentation of cadmium and zinc in relation to other elements in the hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri.- Planta 212: 75–84, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, E.H., Asp, H., Bornman, J.F.: Influence of prior Cd 2+ exposure on the uptake of Cd 2+ and other elements in the phytochelatin-deficient mutant cad 1–3, of Arabidopsis thaliana.- J. exp. Bot. 53: 447–453, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano, E., Hernandez, L. E., Bonay, P., Carpena Ruiz, R.: Distribution of cadmium in shoot and root tissue of maize and pea plants: physiological disturbances.-J. exp. Bot. 48: 123–128, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, I., Romero-Puertas, M.C., Palma, J.M., Sandalio, L.M., Corpas, F.J., Gómez, M., Del Rio, L.A.: Cadmium induces senescence symptoms in leaf peroxisomes of pea plants.-Plant Cell Environ. 24: 1065–1073, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, M.J., Singh, B.R. (ed.): Cadmium in Soils and Plants.-Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morsch, V.M., Schetinger, M.R.C., Martins, A.F., Rocha, J.B.T.: Effects of cadmium, lead, mercury and zinc on 8-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity from radish leaves.-Biol. Plant. 45: 85–89, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, G.J.G., Molina, S.M.G., Lea, P.J., Azevedo, R.A.: Activity of antioxidant enzymes in responses to cadmium in Crotalariajuncea.- Plant Soil 239: 123–132, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poschenrieder, C., Gunse, B., Barceló, J.: Influence of cadmium on water relations, stomatal resistance, and abscisic acid content in expanding bean leaves.-Plant Physiol. 90: 1365–1371, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, M.N.V.: Cadmium toxicity and tolerance in vascular plants.-Environ. exp. Bot. 35: 525–545, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramos, I., Esteban, E., Lucena, J.J., Grete, A.: Cadmium uptake and subcellular distibuition in plants of Lactuca sp. Cd-Mn interation.-Plant Sci. 162: 761–767, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauser, W.E., Ackerley, C.A.: Localization of cadmium in granules within differentiating and mature root cells.-Can. J. Bot. 65: 634–646, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rea, P.: M.R.P.: Subfamily of ABC transporters from plants and yeast.-J. exp. Bot. 50: 895–913, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robards, K., Worsfold, J.P.: Cadmium-toxicology and analysis-a review.-Analyst 116: 549–568, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero-Puertas, M.C., Palma, J.M., Gómez, M., Del Rio, L.A., Sandalio, L.M.: Cadmium causes the oxidative modification of proteins in pea plants.-Plant Cell Environ. 25: 677–686, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandalio, L.M., Dalurzo, H.C., Gómez, M., Romero-Puertas, M.C., Del Rio, L.A.: Cadmium-induced changes in the growth and oxidative metabolism of pea plants.-J. exp. Bot. 53: 1351–1365, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schützendubel, A., Polle, A.: Plant responses to abiotic stresses: heavy metal-induced oxidative stress and protection by mycorrhization.-J. exp. Bot. 53: 1351–1365, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schützendubel, A., Schwanz, P., Teichmann, T., Gross, K., Langenfeld-Heyser, R., Godbold, D.L., Polle, A.: Cadmiuninduced changes in antioxidative systems, hydrogen peroxide content and differentiation in Scots pine roots.-Plant Physiol. 127: 887–898, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Assche, F., Clijsters, H.: Effects of metals on enzyme activity in plants.-Plant Cell Environ. 13: 195–206, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitória, A.P., Lea, P.J., Azevedo, R.A.: Antioxidant enzymes responses to cadmium in radish tissues.-Phytochemistry 57: 701–710, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, F.-J., Hamon, R.E., Lombi, E., McLaughlin, M.J., McGrath, S.P.: Characteristics of cadmium uptake in two contrasting ecotypes of the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens.- J. exp. Bot. 53: 535–543, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Melhoramento Genético Vegetal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, CEP, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil, e-mail

    A.P. Vitória & A.P.M. Rodriguez

  2. Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, CEP, 28013-600, RJ, Brazil

    M. Cunha

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK

    P.J. Lea

Authors
  1. A.P. Vitória
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A.P.M. Rodriguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Cunha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P.J. Lea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R.A. Azevedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vitória, A., Rodriguez, A., Cunha, M. et al. Structural Changes in Radish Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium. Biologia Plantarum 47, 561–568 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOP.0000041062.00539.7a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOP.0000041062.00539.7a

Search

Navigation