Abstract
Plants were cultivated in a nutrient solution containing increasing cadmium concentrations (i.e. 0.001–25 µM), under strictly controlled growth conditions. Changes in both growth parameters and enzyme activities, directly or indirectly related to the cellular free radical scavenging systems, were studied in roots and leaves of 14-day-old maize plants (Zea mays L., cv. Volga) as a result of Cd uptake. A decrease in both shoot length and leaf dry biomass was found to be significant only when growing on 25 µM Cd, whereas concentrations of chlorophyll pigments in the 4th leaf decreased from 1.7 µM Cd on. Changes in enzyme activities occurred at lower Cd concentrations in solution leading to lower threshold values for Cd contents in plants than those observed for growth parameters. Peroxidase (POD; E.C. 1.11.1.7) activity increased in the 3rd and 4th leaf, but not in roots. In contrast, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH; E.C. 1.1.1.49), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH; E.C. 1.1.1.42) and malic enzyme (ME; E.C. 1.1.1.40) activities decreased in the 3rd leaf. According to the relationship between the POD activity and the Cd content, a toxic critical value was set at 3 mg Cd per kg dry matter in the 3rd leaf and 5 mg Cd per kg dry matter in the 4th. Anionic POD were determined both in root and leaf protein extracts; however, no changes in the isoperoxidase pattern were detected in case of Cd toxicity. Results show that in contrast with growth parameters, the measurement of enzyme activities may be included as early biomarkers in a plant bioassay to assess the phytotoxicity of Cd-contaminated soils on maize plants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alloway B J 1995 Heavy Metals in Soils, 2nd ed. Blackie Academic & Professional Publishers, London. 368 p.
Baszinsky T, Wajda L, Krol M, Wolinska D, Krupa Z and Tukendorf A 1980 Photosynthetic activities of cadmium treated tomato plants. Physiol. Plant. 48, 365–370.
Bjerre G K and Schierup H 1985 Uptake of six heavy metals by oat as influenced by soil type and additions of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper. Plant Soil 88, 57–69.
Blanke M M 1990 Determination of chlorophyll with DMF. Vitic. Enol. Sci. 45, 76–78.
Cho S W and Joshi J G 1989 Inactivation of baker's yeast glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by aluminium. Biochemistry 28, 3613–3618.
Creissen G P, Edwards E A and Mullineaux P M 1994 Glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase. In Causes of Photooxidative Stress and Amelioration of Defense Systems in Plants. Eds. C H Foyer and P M Mullineaux. pp 344–361. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
De Vos C H R, Schat H, De Waal M A M, Vooijs R and Ernst W H O 1991 Increased resistance to copper induced damage of the root cell plasmalemma in copper-tolerant Silene cucubalus. Physiol. Plant. 82, 523–528.
Elstner E F, Wagner G A and Schutz W 1988 Activated oxygen in green plants in relation to stress situations. Curr. Top. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 7, 159–187.
Ernst W H O 1980 Biochemical aspects of cadmium in plants. In Cadmium in the Environment. Ed. J O Nriagu. pp 639–653. Wiley and Sons, New York.
Ernst W H O, Verkleij J A C and Schat H 1992 Metal tolerance in plants. Acta Bot. Neer. 41, 229–248.
Ferretti M, Ghisi R, Merlo L, Dalla Vecchia F and Passera C 1993 Effect of cadmium on photosynthesis and enzymes of photosynthetic sulphate and nitrate assimilation pathways in maize (Zea mays L.). Photosynthetica 29, 49–54.
Galli U, Schüepp H and Brunold C 1996 Thiols in cadmium and copper-treated maize (Zea mays L.). Planta 198, 139–143.
Jackson A P and Alloway B J 1992 The transfer of cadmium from agricultural soils to the human food chain. In Biogeochemistry of Trace Metals. Ed. D C Adriano. pp 109–158. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
Jalil A, Selles F and Clarke J M 1994 Growth and Cd accumulation in two durum wheat cultivars. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 25, 2597–2611.
Kappus H 1985 Lipid peroxidation: mechanisms, analysis, enzymology and biochemical relevance. In Oxidative Stress. Ed. H Sies. pp 273–310. Academic Press I l.c., London.
Karataglis S, Moustakas M and Symeonidis L 1991 Effect of heavy metals on isoperoxydases of wheat. Biol. Plant. 33, 3–9.
Khan S and Khan N S 1983 Influence of lead and cadmium on the growth and nutrient concentration of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and egg-plant (Solanum melongena). Plant Soil 74, 387–394.
Khan D H and Frankland B 1983 Effects of cadmium and lead on radish plants with particular reference to movement of metals through soil profile and plant. Plant Soil 70, 335–345.
Lee K C, Cunningham B A, Paulsen G M, Liang G H and Moore R B 1976 Effects of cadmium on respiration rate and activities of several enzymes in soybean seedlings. Physiol. Plant. 36, 4–6.
Lichtenhaler H K and Wellburn A R 1983 Determination of total carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b of leaf extracts in different solvents. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 603rd Meeting, Liverpool 11, 591–592.
Mathys W 1975 Enzymes of heavy-metal-resistant and non-resistant populations of Silene cucubalus and their interaction with some heavy metals in vitro and in vivo. Physiol. Plant. 33, 161–165.
Mench M, Martin E and Solda P 1994 After effects of metals derived from a highly metal-polluted sludge on maize (Zea mays L.). Water Air Soil Pollut. 75, 277–291.
Mocquot B, Vangronsveld J, Clijsters H and Mench m 1996 Copper toxicity in young maize (Zea mays L.) plants: effects on growth, mineral and chlorophyll contents, and enzyme activities. Plant Soil 182, 287–300.
Page A L, Bingham F T and Chang A C 1981 Cadmium. In Effect of Heavy Metal Pollution on Plants. Vol. 1: Effects of Trace Metals on Plant Function. Ed. N W Leep. pp 77–109. Applied Science Publishers, Ripple Road, Barking, Essex, England.
Polle A and Rennenberg H 1994 Photooxidative stress in trees. In Causes of Photooxidative Stress and Amelioration of Defense Systems in Plants. Eds. C H Foyer and P M Mullineaux. pp 200–212. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
Slaski J J, Zhang G, Basu U, Stephens J L and Taylor g 1996 Aluminium resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is associated with rapid Al-induced changes in activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in root apices. Physiol. Plant. 98, 477–484.
Tanaka K, Otsubo T and Kondo N 1982 Participation of hydrogen peroxide in the inactivation of Calvin cycle SH enzymes in SO2-fumigated spinach leaves. Plant Cell Physiol. 23, 1009–1018.
Van Assche F, Cardinaels C and Clijsters H 1988 Induction of enzyme capacity in plants as a result of heavy metal toxicity; dose-reponse relations in Phaseolus vulgaris L., treated with zinc and cadmium. Environ. Pollut. 52, 103–115.
Van Assche F and Clijsters C 1990a Effects of metals on enzyme activity in plants. Plant Cell Environ. 13, 195–206.
Van Assche F and Clijsters C 1990b A biological test system for the evaluation of the phytotoxicity of metal contaminated soils. Environ. Pollut. 66, 157–172.
Vangronsveld J and Clijsters H 1994 Toxic effects of metals. In Plants and the Chemical Elements. Biochemistry, Uptake, Tolerance and Toxicity. Ed. M E Farago. pp 149–177. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim, Germany.
Wagner G J 1993 Accumulation of cadmium in crop plants and its consequences to human health. Adv. Agron. 51, 173–205.
Weigel H J and Jäger H J 1980 Subcellular distribution and chemical form of Cd in bean plants. Plant Physiol. 65, 480–482.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lagriffoul, A., Mocquot, B., Mench, M. et al. Cadmium toxicity effects on growth, mineral and chlorophyll contents, and activities of stress related enzymes in young maize plants (Zea mays L.). Plant and Soil 200, 241–250 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004346905592
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004346905592