Response of wild type of Arabidopsis thaliana to copper stress

Wild type of Arabidopsis thaliana plants were cultivated hydroponically in Hoagland and Arnon nutrient solution and treated with copper (5 - 100 muM) for 2, 4, 7 and 14 d. A progressive decrease of the root length and biomass was observed at increasing Cu concentration in the nutrient solution. Roots accumulated higher amounts of Cu than shoots at all Cu treatments. Changes of cell and chloroplast ultrastructure of Cu treated plants were also observed. Cu application did not induce formation of Cu-phytochelatin complexes. Changes in glutathione and glutathione disulfide content observed in roots and shoots of Cu-treated plants suggest their participation in amelioration of metal-induced oxidative stress.