Some Physiological and Morphological Effects of Cadmium in Ceratophylluill demersum L.

In this study, some Physiological and morphological changes were investigated in Ceratophyllum demersum L. which is treated with different concentrations of Cd (0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 ing L-1) during 96 hours. At low concentrations of Cd, considerable morphological changes did not occur but leaf shedding and partial tissue softening were observed at 1 ing Cd L-1 concentration. In the macrophyte treated with 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 ing Cd L-1, Cd concentrations of macrophyte tissues increased 15.4, 33.5 and 160.0 fold, respectively, compared to control. Total soluble carbohydrate and protein amounts were decreased by Cd treatment. Determined increase in the amounts of proline and cysteine aminoacids indicate their roles in response to Cd stress. The maximum increases in total ascorbate contents were determines as 91.5% at concentrations of 1 ing Cd L-1. On the other hand, observed increase in lipid peroxidation showed that oxidative damage occurred in membranes resulting from Cd stress.