Abstract:
Tea seedlings were treated for 12 days by different concentrations of culture solution with Cd
2+. The results show that the bbiomass of the seedlings is not affected when Cd
2+2+ concentration and treatment time when Cd
2+ concentration is ≥0.10 mmol/L.The content of nucleic acid increases at Cd
2+ level of 0.05mmol/L and decreases at Cd
2+ levell ranging from 0.10mmol/L to 0.50mmol/L. RNA is more sensitive toCd
2+ stress compared with DNA. The Rnase activity increases at Cd
2+ level ranging from 0.00mmol/L to 0.10mmol/L and decreases at Cd
2+ level ranging from 0.25mmol/L to 0.50mmol/L. The nucleus ultrastructure changes progressively with the increase of Cd
2+ concentration. When seedlings are treated with 0.05mmol/L Cd
2+, the nucleolus disintegrates and the chromatin condenses, the perinuclear spaces are slightly dilated. The deeply expanded perinuclear membrane contains nuclear materials at Cd
2+ level of 0.10mmol/L. More serious damage is shown in the nucleus with higher Cd
2+ concentrations, such as deformation of nucleus, shrinking oof nucleus, scattering of condensed chromatin and eventually disruption of nuclear membrane.