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Effects of Cd 2+ and EDTA on young sugar beets ( Beta vulgaris ). I. Cd 2+ uptake and sugar accumulation
Author(s) -
Greger Maria,
Lindberg Sylvia
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1986.tb01235.x
Subject(s) - shoot , sucrose , fructose , sugar , chemistry , cadmium , chelation , botany , food science , horticulture , biology , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry
Sugar beets ( Beta vulgaris L. cv. Monohill) grown in a complete nutrient solution, were treated with Cd 2+ (5 or 50 μ M ) and/or EDTA (10 or 100 μ M ) in different combinations. The Cd contents of five‐week‐old roots and shoots were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and the sucrose, glucose and fructose contents were measured enzymatically. The Cd 2+ uptake in both roots and shoots shows a linear relationship to the concentration of free Cd 2+ in the nutrient solution. This uptake is diminished in the presence of EDTA, suggesting that the Cd‐EDTA complex is unable to penetrate the membranes. The contents of glucose, fructose and sucrose in both roots and shoots decrease with increasing uptake of free Cd 2+ . This may be a secondary effect caused by the inhibition of photosynthesis in the presence of Cd 2+ . EDTA reduces the inhibition of Cd 2+ on sugar formation and accumulation. In the presence of EDTA alone the sugar content increases somewhat. EDTA slightly influences the dry weights of whole plants. The ratio roots:whole plants increases. Cd 2+ (≤ 50 μ M ) increases the dry matter portion of roots by ca 30%, but not that of shoots.