Effects of cadmium and kinetin on chlorophyll content, saccharides and dry matter accumulation in sunflower plants

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) and kinetin (Kin) significantly affected the growth and contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and of soluble and reserve (hydrolysable) saccharides in sunflower plants. Cd-treated plants had lower contents of Chl and soluble saccharides and produced less dry matter than control (Cd-untreated) plants. Chl a stability to heat (CSI) increased at all Cd concentrations. The same was true for Chl b stability (0-10 μM Cd). Spraying sunflower shoots with Kin solutions counteracted the deleterious effects of Cd. Kin application enhanced the Chl a and b contents, Chl a/b ratio, content of soluble saccharides and dry matter, and to less extent Chl stability. The relative role of Kin in affecting the parameters tested (as indicated by η2 values) was predominant while that of Cd was subsidiary except for Chl a stability. The role of Cd×Kin interaction was dominant for hydrolysable saccharides. Hence spraying shoots of plants grown under increasing Cd concentration with Kin can partially alleviate inhibitory effects of cadmium. © 1995 Institute of Experimental Botany, ASCR.