The role of sulphur in detoxication of cadmium in young sugar beet plants

Abstract

In young sugar beet plants cadmium suppressed the activity of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase, whereas sulphur exhibited a protective role towards activity of these enzymes, except of glutamine synthetase. Protein synthesis was suppressed in the absence of S in nutrient medium; the lowest level was at 10-3 M Cd2+. Chloroplast pigment contents were increased by S while Cd2+, even in the lowest concentration, (10-5 M) showed a repressive effect. The highest concentrations of Cd2+ (10-3 M) caused a decrease in dry mass, whereas S induced its increase. Nitrate content was increased in the presence of Cd2+ and decreased by increased concentration of S.