ISSN:
1573-2932
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract To grow plants in high-metal environments, we need to be able to identify genotypes resistant to metal toxicity. The amount of ethylene evolved by plants may be one way to determine tolerant genotypes, because ethylene production increases when plants are stressed. Therefore, ethylene emitted by two genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.), one drought-resistant (‘H28’) and one drought-sensitive (‘K731’), was measured to see if ethylene might be an indicator of resistance to metal toxicity. Seedlings were grown for 22 days in nutrient solution with added levels of 1.8 mg L−1 Cd, 3.2 mg L−1 Cu, or 7.7 mg L−1 Zn. Throughout the experiment, H28 grew taller and had a higher shoot dry weight than K731. H28 emitted more ethylene than K731 under all treatments. K731 accumulated more Cd, Cu, and Zn than H28, when the two genotypes were grown with the elevated levels of the metals. Thus, with metal stress, a drought-resistant genotype of maize evolved more ethylene, grew larger, and accumulated less Cd, Cu, and Zn than a drought-sensitive genotype. The results suggested that genotypes that emit more ethylene may be more resistant to heavy metals than those that emit less ethylene.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00282924
