title: Investigation of the effects of cadmium by micro analytical methods on Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. roots.
abstract: The interactions between cadmium stress and plant nutritional elements have been investigated on complete plant or at the level of organs. This study was undertaken to contribute to the exploration of the physiological basis of cadmium phytotoxicity. We examined the changes in the nutritional element compositions of the root epidermal cells of the seedlings of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. at the initial growth stages that is known as the most sensitive stage to the stress. Effects of cadmium stress on the seedlings of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. were examined by EDX (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis) assay performed with using low vacuum (∼ 24 Pascal) Scanning Electron Microscopy. In the analysis performed at the level of root epidermal cells, some of the macro- and micronutrient contents of the cells (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, copper, and zinc levels) were found to change when the applying toxic concentrations of cadmium. There was no change in the manganese and sodium content of the epidermal cells. It was concluded that the changes in nutritional element composition of the cells can be considered as an effective parameter in explaining the physiological mechanisms of cadmium-induced growth inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Osmangazi University Science Faculty Department of Biology Eskisehir Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Osmangazi University Science Faculty Department of Physics Eskisehir Turkey.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Baykul
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Osmangazi University Metallurgy Institute Eskisehir Turkey.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gürler
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Osmangazi University Science Faculty Department of Biology Eskisehir Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Catak
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Osmangazi University Science Faculty Department of Chemistry Eskisehir Turkey.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caner
mesh_terms: D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D019256:Cadmium Chloride
keywords: EDX; Lycopersicon esculentum; SEM; cadmium toxicity; plant nutrients