Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T01:19:13.181Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of cadmium on growth of Helianthus annuus seedlings: physiological aspects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 1999

R. DI CAGNO ,
L. GUIDI ,
A. STEFANI  and
G. F. SOLDATINI
R. DI CAGNO
Affiliation:
Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento ‘S. Anna’, Via Carducci 40, 56100 Pisa, Italy
L. GUIDI
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
A. STEFANI
Affiliation:
Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento ‘S. Anna’, Via Carducci 40, 56100 Pisa, Italy
G. F. SOLDATINI
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Get access

Abstract

Sunflower seedlings (Helianthus annuus hybrid Select) were grown in a complete nutrient solution in the absence or presence of Cd2+ (10 and 20 μM). Analyses were performed to establish whether there was a differential effect of Cd2+ on mature and young leaves. After 7 d the growth parameters as well as the leaf area had decreased in both mature and young leaves. Accumulation of Cd2+ in the roots exceeded that in the shoots. Seedlings treated with Cd2+ exhibited reduced contents of chlorophyll and CO2 assimilation rate, with a greater decrease in young leaves. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) was not altered by Cd2+ treatment in either mature or young leaves, although during steady-state photosynthesis in young leaves there was a significant alteration in the following parameters: quantum yield of electron transport by PSII (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching (qP), non-photochemical quenching (qNP), and excitation capture efficiency of PSII (Φexc).

Keywords

chlorophyll fluorescencegas exchangerelative water contentCd2+ toxicitystomatal conductancesunflower
Type
Research Article
Information
The New Phytologist , Volume 144 , Issue 1 , October 1999 , pp. 65 - 71
Copyright
© Trustees of the New Phytologist 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)