Interactive effect of heavy metals and gibberellic acid on mitotic activity and some metabolic changes of Vicia faba L. plants

Abstract

The influence of gibberellic acid, two heavy metals (cadmium and lead) and their interactions on mitotic activity and biochemical constituents of Vicia faba yielded seeds was studied. The results showed that different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) induced marked inhibition in the contents of soluble carbohydrate, proteins and ribonucleic acid. Heavy metals also induced marked increases of the total percentage of abnormalities. Moreover, different types of chromosomal aberrations were observed in response to heavy metals. On the contrary, gibberellic acid (GA3) stimulated mitotic activity and biochemical constituents of the yielded seeds of Vicia faba. Gibberellic acid could be also counteracted the adverse effects of heavy metals on mitotic index and some metabolic mechanisms of broad bean plants. In addition, electrophoretic profiles of broad bean seeds proteins showed quantitative differences between major bands obtained in control and treated plants. © 2005 The Japan Mendel Society.