Growth and Water Movement in Silver Maple Seedlings Affected by Cadmium
- 1 April 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Environmental Quality
- Vol. 6 (2) , 201-205
- https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1977.00472425000600020021x
Abstract
Effect of cadmium chloride on dry weight accumulation, height growth, and relative conductivity of stems of silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) seedlings exposed to 0, 5, 10, or 20 ppm CdCl2 · 2½ H2O (on weight basis of rooting media) was determined. Leaf, stem, and root dry weight were significantly reduced by all CdCl2 treatments. Seedling height at 8 weeks was severely reduced and strongly correlated with applied CdCl2 levels. Relative conductivity of excised stem sections was significantly reduced by Cd treatment. The reduction was caused by (i) a progressive decrease in the proportion of xylem tissue available for water conduction, (ii) reduced size of vessels and tracheids, and (iii) partial blockage of xylem elements by cellular debris or gums. These findings are discussed in relation to water stress.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Science Foundation (GI-35106)
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- On the Conductivity of the Xylem in TreesAnnals of Botany, 1965
- Effect of Water Stress on Cell Wall Metabolism of Avena Coleoptile TissuePlant Physiology, 1960