Cadmium exposure of heavy metal-tolerant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (the common ice plant) stimulates gas exchange

Abstract

When exposed to high cadmium concentrations applied to the soil, the abiotic stress-tolerant, semi-halophytic C3/CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthetic intermediate plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. demonstrates negligible poisoning symptoms with well-protected photochemical activity. Gas exchange analysis of the soil-grown plants exposed to Cd concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10.0 mM revealed stimulation of net photosynthesis in the C 3 metabolic state, and this observation coincided with an increase in the transpiration level. The obtained results suggest that the initial action of Cd after the administration of this heavy metal is the stimulation of stomata opening.

Keywords

• photosynthesis
• heavy metals
• soil remediation
• photochemical activity
• crassulacean acid metabolism
• common ice plant