Physiological and ultra-structural changes in Brassica napus seedlings induced by cadmium stress

The effects of cadmium on physiological and ultrastructural characteristics were evaluated in 6-d-old seedlings of two Brassica napus L. cultivars Zheda 619 and ZS 758. Results show that Cd at lower concentration (100 mu M) stimulated the seedling growth but at higher concentration (500 mu M) inhibited the growth of both cultivars, decreased content of photosynthetic pigments, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and increased the content of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species. Cd content in different parts of seedlings was higher in ZS 758 than in Zheda 619. Electron micrographs illustrated that 500 mu M Cd severely damaged the leaf and root tip cells of both cultivars. Under Cd stress, the size and number of starch grains, plastoglobuli, and lipid bodies in the chloroplasts increased. In the root tip cells, enlarged vacuoles, diffused cell walls, and undeveloped mitochondria were detected.