Maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown in hydroponic culture were treated with 50 &thinsp&mum CdCl2. Growth and metabolic parameters indicative of oxidative stress and antioxidant responses were studied in leaves and roots of plants. Apart from increasing lipid peroxidation, death cells and H2O2 accumulation, supply of Cd suppressed growth, fresh and dry mass of plants. The activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and gutathione reductase (GR) however increased in plants supplied with 50&thinsp&mumCd. Therefore, it can be concluded that a supply of 50&thinsp&mumCd induced oxidative stress by increasing production of ROS despite increased antioxidant protection in maize plants.

Keywords: maize, Death cell, antioxidants, Cd toxicity, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, ROS

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