Effects of Cadmium Stress on Antioxidant Enzymes and Osmolyte Accumulation in Aromatic Rice Seedlings

Abstract

Cadmium(Cd) soil). Antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase(POD), and Catalase(CAT)), osmolyte accumulation (proline, protein, total sugar, amino acid), lipid peroxidation (in terms of melanodialdehyde(MDA)) and growth parameters (plant height, and total dry matter content) and Cd uptake in rice cultivars exposed to different Cd levels were examined. The results showed that, with increased levels of soil Cd toxicity, activities of SOD and MDA contents increased, while activities of POD and CAT enzymes, as well as osmolyte accumulation and dry matter contents decreased for all cultivars. Cd uptake in roots and in shoots of all the cultivars increased with increased soil Cd contents. Uptake was higher in roots than in shoots with