|
Thirty-day-old seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Kwangsoo) were treated with various cadmium (Cd) concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, and 500μM) for up to 20 days, and the detailed distribution of absorbed Cd and its phytotoxicity in different plant parts (root, stem, and leaves) were investigated. The accumulation of Cd in plants increased with external Cd concentrations and Cd was strongly retained by roots, with less than 30% of the absorbed Cd being transported to shoots. Among the leaves, the lower positioned older leaves accumulated more Cd than the younger leaves. Furthermore, Cd-exposure not only reduced the dry weight and length of both shoot and root, chlorophyll levels in leaves, and levels of photosynthesis, but also enhanced the concentration of malondialdehyde (a lipid peroxidation product) in all plant parts. Our results indicate that the physiological impairment of tomato seedlings exposed to toxic levels of Cd may be related to the internal distribution of absorbed Cd, prolonged exposure, and oxidative stress in different plant parts.
|