1. [Effects of cadmium on the growth and nitrogen metabolism in Brassica chinensis].
- Author
-
Yu FM, Qiu RL, Tang YT, Ying RR, Zhou XY, Zhao X, Hu PJ, and Zeng XW
- Subjects
- Brassica growth & development, Brassica metabolism, Chlorophyll metabolism, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase metabolism, Nitrate Reductase metabolism, Brassica drug effects, Cadmium pharmacology, Nitrogen metabolism, Proline metabolism
- Abstract
Hydroponic culture was conducted to study the effect of Cd on the growth, metal accumulation and nitrogen metabolism in Brassica chinensis. The enzymatic activities of nitrogen metabolism including nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and GS-transferase as well as the concentrations of chlorophyll, free proline, soluble protein, NO3(-) -N, NH4+ -N and nutrients in Brassica chinensis were determined. Results indicated that the addition of Cd reduced the content of the soluble protein and the accumulation of Cu, Ca, Fe and Mg, but promoted the P uptake. Low level of Cd (1 mg x L(-1)) could significantly increase the biomass and the content of chlorophyll of Brassica chinensis and the activities of NR, GS and GS-transferase when compared to control plants. However, when the Cd levels were above 2.5 mg x L(-1) in the culture medium, the activities of these enzymes were inhibited. Accordingly, the contents of NO3(-) -N, NH4+ -N, free proline and the activity of protease in the leaf of Brassica chinensis increased significantly. These results suggested that Cd addition could interfere with the assimilation of N in Brassica chinensis. The increase of free proline might alleviate the toxicity of ammonium in Brassica chinensis.
- Published
- 2008