Identification of phytochelatins in the cadmium-stressed conjugating green alga Micrasterias denticulata

► Cadmium induces phytochelatins PC2, PC3, PC4 in the conjugating alga Micrasterias. ► Glutathione levels remained constant upon treatment with cadmium, chromium and copper. ► After chromium exposure traces of PC2 were measured by UPLC-MS.