title: Biochemical responses of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze to heavy metal stress.
abstract: Three heavy metals-mercury (II), copper (II) and nickel (II), each at a concentration of 10 and 100 micrograms/ml, were tested for their effects on various biochemical constituents of tea leaves. Both NI (II) and Hg (II) decreased the phenolic contents, while Cu (II) increased it to some extent. The metal treatments enhanced the activity of phenyl alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), while the activity of poly phenol oxidase (PPO) showed a decline. Heavy metal stress also decreased the chlorophyll content of the leaves, along with a significant reduction in Hill activity. Proline content increased significantly in all treatments.
authors.affiliation: Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of North Bengal, Siliguri-734 430, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
mesh_terms: D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D013662:Tea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D017669:Mercury Compounds; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D013662:Tea; C022838:nickel chloride; D009532:Nickel; C015728:calomel; D019327:Copper Sulfate