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Alleviation of cadmium toxicity on maize seedlings by calcium

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The rate of germination, radicle and plumule length, fresh and dry mass of maize seedlings were increased as Ca2+ was added to the nutrient solution, which contained different levels of Cd2+, especially at low concentration of Ca2+ (5 mM) and high concentrations of Cd2+ (1.4 and 1.8 mM). The biosynthesis of pigments, respiration rate and content of soluble saccharides in endosperm were reduced sharply as the concentration of Cd2+ in the medium increased. This effects was alleviated by Ca2+ addition. Cd2+ content in seedlings was increased as the Cd2+ concentration in medium was increased and decreased sharply as Ca2+ was present in the culture medium. The study suggests liming of soil with CaCO3 to improve the yield of many crops.

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  1. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

    A. E. El-Enany

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El-Enany, A.E. Alleviation of cadmium toxicity on maize seedlings by calcium. Biol Plant 37, 93–99 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02913003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02913003

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