The Impact of Cadmium on Some Mitochondrial Antioxidative Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation in Maize Root

Abstract

The study is an investigation into the role of mitochondrial Mn-sensitive superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and peroxidase (POX) enzymes in Cd toxicity in maize. Soil treated with Cd at concentrations of 10 and 20 ppm significantly reduced seedling % emergence and fresh weight of root of 7, 14 and 28-day old maize. These Cd concentrations also inhibited shoot height and leaf area of maize seedling. The accumulation of Cd in the root of the plant for up to 28 days was about 100-fold.   Cd at the three concentrations studied increased significantly the activities of mitochondrial MnSOD and POX isolated from 7, 14 and 28-day maize root. Soil treatment with increasing concentration of Cd results in increased generation of TBARS in maize root. The effect of Cd on all the parameters studied was concentration dependent. These results are discussed in relation to the likely role of antioxidant enzymes in ROS detoxification generated by Cd contamination in maize.