Effects of Cd2+ on the physiological state and photosynthetic activity of young barley plants

Abstract

Barley plants (Hordeum vulgate L. cv. Obzor) were grown as a water culture in a climatic room. One part of them was subjected to a long-term Cd2+ stress - 12 d with 5.4x10-5 M Cd. The Cd2+ stress inhibited formation of the photosynthetic apparatus and its capacity for 14C photoassimilation, decreased the content of soluble proteins, increased the dark respiration rate and the free amino acids content, disturbed plant water relations, as well as the distribution of 14C within primary photoproducts of the treated barley plants.