Impact of cadmium stress on two maize hybrids

• Cd affected physiological and anatomical parameters of maize hybrids.
• Higher Cd deposition in apoplast compared to cytoplasm was found.
• Cd evoked differences in cell wall composition reflecting hybrids tolerance.
• Higher hemicelluloses and Klason lignin, lower cellulose was detected at Cd treatment.
• Hemicelluloses: cellulose ratio depended on hybrid tolerance and Cd concentration.

Some physiological parameters and composition of the root cell walls of two maize hybrids (monocots), the sensitive Novania and the tolerant Almansa were studied after treatment with cadmium cations. After 10 days of Cd2+ treatment (1 × 10−5 M and 5 × 10−5 M), plant growth inhibition, in the sensitive hybrid in particular, as well as a certain alteration in root structure and pigment content were observed. The Cd2+ accumulation was ten times higher in the roots than in the shoots. Chemical analyses and atomic absorption spectroscopy proved that Cd2+ modified the composition of the root cell walls by a significant increase in the content of alkali-soluble polysaccharide fractions, particularly in the tolerant hybrid. An increase in the content of phenolic compounds, mainly in the tolerant hybrid, and a decrease in protein content were observed in the presence of Cd2+ in the alkali fractions. The results indicate that the changes in the cell wall polysaccharide fractions and their proportion to lignin and cellulose are obviously involved in the tolerance and/or defence against Cd2+ of the maize hybrids studied.

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