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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
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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

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