A Specific Response to Toxic Cadmium Levels in Red Kidney Bean Embryos

Abstract
Cadmium salts are highly toxic to excised embryos ofPhaseolus vulgariscv. Red Kidney, inhibiting growth at concentrations in excess of 3 mg/L Inhibition is accompanied by specific toxic responses, namely inhibition of greening and induction of acute curvature in the embryonic axis. Comparisons among some 24 elements at 10 mg/l for cadmium‐like effects showed silver to affect curvature, but not greening, while cobalt and nickel were the converse.