Effects of copper on chlorophyll, proline, protein and abscisic acid level of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings.

The effect of copperchloride (CuCl2) on the level of chlorophyll (a+b), proline, protein and abscisic acid in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings were investigated Control and copper treated (0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 mM) seedlings were grown for ten days in Hoagland solution. Abscisic acid content was determined in root, shoot and leaf tissues of seedlings by HPLC. Copper stress caused significant increase of the abscisic acid contents in roots, shoots and leaves of seedlings. The increase was dependent on the copper salt concentration. Enhanced accumulation of proline in the leaves of seedlings exposed to copper was determined, as well as a decrease of chlorophyll (a+b) and total protein (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). It was observed that the level of chlorophyll (a+b) and total protein (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) remarkably decreased as copper concentration increased to 0.6 mM, although the levels of proline and abscisic acid in the leaves of plants were increased--a dose-depended behavior The same trends were also observed with the level of abscisic acid of stems and roots. Copper has dose- depended effects on chlorophyll, proline, protein and abscisic acid level of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings. Thus, we assumed that copper levels increase above some critical points seedling growth get negative effects. This assumption is in line with previous findings.

Effect of cadmium on germination, coleoptile and root growth of barley seeds in the presence of gibberellic acid and kinetin.

Effect of cadmium on barley seeds treated with kinetin and gibberellic acid was investigated. As usual, cadmium has inhibited seed germination, and showed important inhibitory effects on roots and coleoptile growth after germination. In general, increase in cadmium concentration caused a greater inhibition of germination, root and coleoptile growth. The adverse effect of cadmium on root and coleoptile growth was more pronounced than that on germination. While testa was pierced by radicle (an indication of germination), no root or coleoptile development was observed above at concentration of 3-9.5 mM CdCl2xH2O. Low concentrations of cadmium have inhibited the root growth more than it did on coleoptile growth. Treatment of seeds with gibberellic acid and kinetin did not show any significant difference on the effect of cadmium in germination. However, inhibition of coleoptile elongation by cadmium has decreased a very much after kinetin application. The same result, although with lower rates when compared to kinetin, has been obtained for GA3 as well. In addition, the inhibitory effect of cadmium on root growth increased even more after kinetin application. The results have been found statistically significant through the least significant different (LSD) test at levels ofp < 0.05 and p < 0.01.

The effects of Co2+ and Zn2+ on the contents of protein, abscisic acid, proline and chlorophyll in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Strike) seedlings.

17-day-old bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Strike) were used to analyze the effects of Co2+ and Zn2+ on the time course of proline, total protein, chlorophyll and abscisic acid (ABA) levels in leaves. Controls, Co2+ and Zn2+-treated plants were grown for 8 days in Hoagland solution. Samples were taken at 2 day intervals. Proline, chlorophyll (a+b) and total protein contents of 17 day old primary leaves were determined by a spectrophotometer. ABA contents in roots and leaves of the seedlings were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The presence of Zn2+ and Co2+ significantly increased the ABA contents in roots and leaves (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The increase of the abscisic acid content in the leaves was related to the content of the roots. This was further substantiated by enhanced accumulation of proline in the leaves of seedlings exposed to zinc and cobalt. The contents of chlorophyll (a+b) and total protein decreased with the concentration of both metals (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Cobalt proved to be comparatively more toxic than zinc.