The Growth and Antioxidative Responses of Sonchus oleraceus (Linnaeus, 1753) Under Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) Stress Condition

Plants growing in soil containing heavy metal polutan such as chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) will be stunted, and increase production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). In dealing with the excess amount of ROS, plants have an enzymatic defense system, using superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxide (APX). The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the Sonchus oleraceus (Linnaeus, 1753) plant response to heavy metals stress, seen from the growth and antioxidative defense enzymatically. Research carried out using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and five replicates. The metal treatment was 10 mg . L-1. The presence of heavy metals in the growing medium significantly decreased the plant height and leaf area, so the impact is on the weight of wet and dry weight. The metal treatments of Cr, Cd, Pb and Cu increase the activity of SOD and APX enzymes but decrease the activity of the CAT enzyme. Chromium is a metal that has a significant influence on the growth and activity of SOD, APX, and CAT enzymes in S. oleraceus.