柠檬酸、草酸和乙酸对污泥中镉、铅、铜和锌的去除效果

研究了柠檬酸、草酸和乙酸对污泥中Cd、Pb、Cu和Zn等重金属的去除效果,并分析了污泥中重金属的形态变化和生物有效性.结果表明,随着反应时间和酸浓度的增加,污泥中重金属（Cu除外）的去除率也相应增加.污泥加入柠檬酸溶液反应7 h即可去除污泥中52.0%的Pb和74.2％的Zn, 24 h后可去除76.0%的Pb和92.5%的Zn,草酸和乙酸对重金属的去除率较低.柠檬酸去除的Pb和Zn主要以稳定态存在,并导致污泥中不稳定态重金属的比例上升,其中可交换态重金属浓度有不同程度的增加.虽然有机酸对Cd和Cu的去除率较低,但反应后可交换态Cd和Cu的浓度仍有小幅增加.     

Soil nitrogen and microbial biomass carbon dynamics in native forests and derived agricultural land uses in a humid tropical climate of India

Sedum alfredii, a cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulator at a mine located in Qu Zhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, can accumulate Cd and Zn exceeding 1,000 and 10,000 mg kg^?1, respectively in its shoot (dry weight) when growing under metal-contaminated habitats. Several strains of bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of S. alfredii thriving in different Pb/Zn mines in Hunan Province and Zhejiang Province, China, which can resist high levels of heavy metals. Among the different strains isolated, Burkholderia cepacia showed the highest ability in mobilizing Cd and Zn as well as resisting high concentrations of soluble Zn (500 mg L^?1). The soluble Zn concentration in the medium increased from 13 to 72 and 99% (p?<?0.001) after bacterial inoculation in the medium supplemented with insoluble zinc oxide and zinc carbonate, respectively, while pH dropped from 7 to 2.93. The soluble Cd concentration was also increased from 8 to 96% (p?<?0.001), and pH decreased from 7 to 2.65. Short-chain organic acids were also analyzed and the results indicated that oxalic acid, tartaric acid, formic acid and acetic acid had a significant correlation (p?<?0.001) with the concentrations of Cd and Zn being mobilized during the assay. The present results implicated that certain bacteria associated with metal hyperaccumulators could contribute significantly in mobilizing heavy metals, which would enhance the phytoextraction process.     

低磷胁迫下AM真菌对枳实生苗吸磷效应及根系分泌有机酸的影响

在温室沙培灭菌条件下,以Al-P为磷源、枳为试材、Glomus mosseae (G.m)和G.versiforme (G.v)为菌剂,研究低磷胁迫下AM真菌对枳实生苗干物重、吸磷效应及根系分泌有机酸的影响。结果表明,接种AM真菌显著增加枳地上部、地下部干物重,增幅16.79%~135.25%;同时显著增加其吸磷量,菌丝对植株的吸磷贡献率为17.04%~71.95%(G.m>G.v),施Al-P显著提高菌丝吸磷贡献率。接种AM真菌的根系分泌的有机酸种类与对照有所不同,未接种处理枳分泌的有机酸有草酸、苹果酸、乳酸、乙酸、顺丁烯二酸和柠檬酸等6种,而接种G.m的则检测到草酸、酒石酸、苹果酸、乳酸、乙酸、柠檬酸、丁二酸等7种,G.v处理的检测到酒石酸,接种处理均未检测到顺丁烯二酸;接种丛枝菌根真菌增加了枳根系分泌有机酸的量(比未接种处理增加19.80~56.87 mg/kg,且施用AlPO₄后有机酸含量显著增加(增加20.06~21.84 mg/kg);未接种植株根系仅分泌少量有机酸;接种植株根系分泌的有机酸以苹果酸(42.87%)、柠檬酸(39.22%)和草酸(12.06%)为主。     

Silencing of omega-5 gliadins in transgenic wheat eliminates a major source of environmental variability and improves dough mixing properties of flour

Background

Silicon (Si) application has been known to enhance the tolerance of plants against abiotic stresses. However, the protective mechanism of Si under heavy metals contamination is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the role of Si in counteracting toxicity due to cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in rice plants (Oryza sativa).

Results

Si significantly improved the growth and biomass of rice plants and reduced the toxic effects of Cd/Cu after different stress periods. Si treatment ameliorated root function and structure compared with non-treated rice plants, which suffered severe root damage. In the presence of Si, the Cd/Cu concentration was significantly lower in rice plants, and there was also a reduction in lipid peroxidation and fatty acid desaturation in plant tissues. The reduced uptake of metals in the roots modulated the signaling of phytohormones involved in responses to stress and host defense, such as abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid. Furthermore, the low concentration of metals significantly down regulated the mRNA expression of enzymes encoding heavy metal transporters (OsHMA2 and OsHMA3) in Si-metal-treated rice plants. Genes responsible for Si transport (OsLSi1 and OsLSi2), showed a significant up-regulation of mRNA expression with Si treatment in rice plants.

Conclusion

The present study supports the active role of Si in the regulation of stresses from heavy metal exposure through changes in root morphology.     

Ospdr9, which encodes a PDR-type ABC transporter, is induced by heavy metals, hypoxic stress and redox perturbations in rice roots

Little is known about the role of pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR)-type ATP-binding (ABC) proteins in plant responses to environmental stresses. We characterised ospdr9, which encodes a rice ABC protein with a reverse (ABC-TMS(6))(2) configuration. Polyethylene glycol and the heavy metals Cd (20 microM) and Zn (30 microM) rapidly and markedly induced ospdr9 in roots of rice seedlings. Hypoxic stress also induced ospdr9 in rice roots, salt stress induced ospdr9 at low levels but cold and heat shock had no effect. The plant growth regulator jasmonic acid, the auxin alpha-naphthalene acetic acid and the cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine triggered ospdr9 expression. The antioxidants dithiothreitol and ascorbic acid rapidly and markedly induced ospdr9 in rice roots; the strong oxidant hydrogen peroxide also induced ospdr9 but at three times lower levels. The results suggested that redox changes may be involved in the abiotic stress response regulation of ospdr9 in rice roots.     

硅素对水稻幼苗镉积累及抗胁迫应答的调节效应

施硅(Si)可以显著缓解镉(Cd)胁迫对水稻生长发育的毒害效应。本研究通过水培分根试验,研究了Si对水稻幼苗Cd积累及胁迫应答的调节效应。结果表明: Cd胁迫下水稻幼苗的生物量显著降低,加Si可以显著缓解Cd对水稻幼苗生长的抑制效应。水稻幼苗对Cd的吸收、转运和积累明显受到Si的影响,单侧根系Cd胁迫下加Si(Si-Cd+Si,Si-Cd)使根系对Cd的滞留系数达83.3%～83.6%,限制了Cd从根向地上部转移。单侧根系Cd胁迫下非胁迫侧加Si(Si-Cd)处理的植株对Cd的吸收和累积明显增加,尤其是根中Cd的积累量较单侧根系Cd胁迫下无Si(CK-Cd)处理增加了48.2%;而单侧根系Cd胁迫下双侧加Si(Si-Cd+Si)处理则显著降低了根和地上部对Cd的吸收,较CK-Cd处理分别降低了36.7%和54.9%。双侧Cd胁迫下单侧加Si(Cd-Cd+Si)则使根和地上部对Cd的吸收量显著减少,较双侧根Cd胁迫(Cd-Cd)处理分别降低了57.8%和46.5%。Cd胁迫下水稻幼苗根中含较高浓度的Si,加Si则使Cd胁迫下根和地上部积累更多的Si。加Si也影响了水稻幼苗对其他金属元素如钙(Ca)、镁(Mg)、锰(Mn)的吸收,Cd-Cd+Si处理显著增加了根系和地上部的Ca、Mg浓度,但Mn浓度的变化则因Cd胁迫程度而表现不同。加Si对Cd胁迫下根系超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性有一定的影响,尤其是Si-Cd处理的胁迫侧POD和非胁迫侧SOD活性显著上升,有利于清除Cd胁迫产生的氧自由基。总之,Si对Cd胁迫下水稻幼苗生长、Cd和Si等的吸收及根系的抗氧化反应有一定的调节效应,植株体内较高的Si浓度有利于增强植株对Cd的耐受性。     

以回交重组自交系定位水稻萌芽期耐镉胁迫相关QTLs

水稻是世界上最主要的粮食作物之一,目前农用耕地存在土壤重金属污染的问题,而水稻对镉（Cd）等重金属的耐受性较低,进而使水稻产量和质量受到影响。定位稻种耐Cd胁迫相关数量性状基因座(quantitative trait loci, QTLs),对于指导水稻耐Cd育种具有重要意义。为发掘Cd胁迫相关基因,以粳稻02428和籼稻昌恢891衍生的124个回交重组自交系群体（backcross recombinant inbred ines,BILs）为材料,对水稻萌芽期的根长、芽长进行了分析,并对萌芽期与Cd胁迫相关的QTLs进行了定位分析。结果显示：Cd胁迫处理下,02428和昌恢891根长和芽长均受到显著抑制（P＜0.01）,其中Cd对根长的抑制强于芽长;QTL分析共检测到5个萌芽期与Cd胁迫相关的QTLs：qCdBL3、qCdRL7、qCdBL8.1、qCdBL8.2和qCdBL9分别位于水稻第3、7、8、8和9号染色体上,贡献率为6.45%~19.46%。其中,qCdBL3、qCdBL8.1、qCdBL8.2和qCdBL9与芽长相关,qCdRL7与根长相关。同时,检测到2个在对照条件下（水溶液）影响根长和芽长的QTLs：qCKBL8、qCKRL4,分别位于第8和4号染色体上,贡献率为10.53%和10.89%。比较显示,对照和Cd处理条件下控制水稻萌芽期根长或芽长的QTLs均不相同,说明Cd胁迫条件下,控制水稻根长和芽长的遗传机制可能不同于非Cd胁迫条件。研究结果为耐Cd基因的克隆和耐Cd水稻新品种的选育提供了参考。     

Stress-induced allelopathic activity and momilactone B in rice

Allelopathic activity of rice extracts and root exudates against Echinochloa crus-galli increased by heavy metal, cantharidin and jasmonic acid treatments. Since cantharidin (protein phosphatase inhibitor) acts as an elicitor and jasmonic acid is an important signaling molecule regulating inducible defense genes against the pathogen infection, heavy metal stress and pathogen infection may increase alleopathic activity of rice. These treatments also increased the concentrations of momilactone B in rice extracts and root exudates, suggesting that the production of momilactone B in rice and the secretion of momilactone B from rice into the rhizosphere may be enhanced by the treatments. As momilactone B possesses strong phytotoxic and allelopathic activities, the elevated production and secretion of momilactone B of rice by heavy metals, cantharidin and jasmonic acid may contribute to the increasing allelopathic activity of rice. Enhancement of the secretion of momilactone B into the rhizosphere may provide a competitive advantage for root establishment through local suppression of pathogen and inhibition of the growth of competing plant species. Therefore, allelopathy of rice may be one of the inducible defense mechanisms and may be regulated several environmental factors.     

Osgstu3 and osgtu4, encoding tau class glutathione S-transferases, are heavy metal- and hypoxic stress-induced and differentially salt stress-responsive in rice roots

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have poorly understood roles in plant responses to environmental stresses. A polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced tau class GST was identified in rice roots by protein microsequencing. PEG and the heavy metals Cd (20 microM), Zn (30 microM), Co and Ni rapidly and markedly induced osgstu4 and osgstu3 in rice seedling roots. Osgstu4 and osgstu3 were also induced in roots by hypoxic stress but not by cold nor heat shock. Salt stress and abscisic acid (ABA) rapidly induced osgstu3 in rice roots, whereas osgstu4 exhibited a late salt stress and no ABA response. Salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and the auxin alpha-naphthalene acetic acid triggered osgstu4 and osgstu3 expression. Osgstu4 and osgstu3 were rapidly and markedly induced by the antioxidant dithiothreitol and the strong oxidant hydrogen peroxide, which suggested that redox perturbations and reactive oxygen species are involved in their stress response regulations.     

Analysis of major tomato xylem organic acids and PITC-derivatives of amino acids by RP-HPLC and UV detection

Major amino acids and organic acids in xylem exudates of tomato plants were separated by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and quantified by UV detection. Before separation, amino acids were converted into their phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) derivatives. In a single run, Asp, Glu, Ser, Gln, His, Thr, Ala, Tyr, Val, Met, Cys, Ile, Leu, Phe, and Lys could be separated and detected down to the pmol level. Unresolved peaks were obtained for Asn and Gly and for Arg and Pro. For organic acid analysis, exudates were pre-treated by perfusion over a prepacked Adsorbex SCX cation exchange column, to eliminate exudate amino acids. Elution recoveries for organic acids were close to 100%. The exudate organic acids were separated by ion suppression RP-HPLC chromatography, and peaks could be resolved for L-malic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, citric acid and fumaric acid, down to the pmol level. UV signals for exudate ascorbic acid, and succinic acid were below the limits of detection. Determination of oxalic acid and tartaric acid was impossible, due to the presence of the exudate salt peak in the chromatogram. The results indicate the potential of the methods applied, and show the applicability of RP-HPLC analysis for the determination of both amino acids and organic acids in xylem exudates.     

Effect of organic acids on the biosynthesis of macrotetralide antibiotics by an Actinomyces chrysomallus var. carotenoides strain

The biosynthesis of macrotetrolides by Actinomyces chrysomalus var. carotenoides was stimulated by acetic, succinic, propionic, oxalic, malic, tartaric, citric, pyruvic, alpha-ketoglutaric and fumaric acids. Incorporation of 14C-acetate into the molecule of the antibiotic and the data on dependence of the stimulating effect upon the quantitative ratio and time of the organic acid addition were indicative of the role of acetic, succinic and propionic acids as precursors of macrotetrolides. The other organic acids increased the biosynthesis of macrotetolides when added to the culture within wide time ranges of the culture development and prolonged the period of the mycelium productive state.     

Effects of bacteria on enhanced metal uptake of the Cd/Zn-hyperaccumulating plant, Sedum alfredii

To investigate the effects of bacteria (Burkholderia cepacia) on metal uptake by the hyperaccumulating plant, Sedum alfredii, a hydroponic experiment with different concentrations of Cd and Zn was conducted. It was found that inoculation of bacteria on S. alfredii significantly enhanced plant growth (up to 110% with Zn treatment), P (up to 56.1% with Cd treatment), and metal uptake (up to 243% and 96.3% with Cd and Zn treatment, respectively) in shoots, tolerance index (up to 134% with Zn added treatment), and better translocation of metals (up to 296% and 135% with Cd and Zn treatment, respectively) from root to shoot. In the ampicillin added treatment with metal addition, stimulation of organic acid production (up to an increase of 133% of tartaric acid with Cd treatment) by roots of S. alfredii was observed. The secretion of organic acids appears to be a functional metal resistance mechanism that chelates the metal ions extracellularly, reducing their uptake and subsequent impacts on root physiological processes.     

碳酸钙对水稻吸收重金属(Pb、Cd、Zn)和As的影响

选用重金属(Pb、Cd、Zn)和As复合污染土壤进行水稻盆栽试验,结果表明,碳酸钙的添加显著提高了土壤pH值,显著降低了土壤中交换态Pb、Cd、Zn和As的含量,与对照相比,交换态Pb、Cd、Zn和As含量分别最多降低了98.35%,93.72%,98.52%和69.48%。碳酸钙对水稻根、稻谷干重和总生物量没有显著影响,添加量过高时显著降低了水稻分蘖数和茎叶干重,说明过量施用碳酸钙对水稻生长会产生负面作用。因为碳酸钙的添加,水稻植株各部位重金属Zn含量显著降低,糙米中Zn含量最多减少了34.95%;根、谷壳中Pb、Cd含量显著降低,但糙米中含量却未显著降低;水稻各部位As含量均没有显著降低。参照《食品中污染物限量》(GB2762—2012),试验糙米中Pb、Cd、无机As含量均未达到限量标准。显然,碳酸钙的添加降低了Pb、Cd、Zn的生物有效性(水稻根系对Pb、Cd、Zn的吸收累积减少),但并未有效地抑制Pb、Cd向糙米转运;碳酸钙显著降低了土壤的交换态As含量,但并未使土壤中As的生物有效性明显降低(水稻植株各部位的As含量并未显著减少)。     

The Variation of Root Exudates from the Hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii under Cadmium Stress: Metabonomics Analysis

Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the variation of root exudates from the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii under the stress of cadmium (Cd). S. alfredii was cultured for 4 days in the nutrient solution spiked with CdCl₂ at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 40, and 400 µM Cd after the pre-culture. The root exudates were collected and analyzed by GC-MS, and 62 compounds were identified. Of these compounds, the orthogonal partial least-squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) showed that there were a distinct difference among the root exudates with different Cd treatments and 20 compounds resulting in this difference were found out. Changing tendencies in the relative content of these 20 compounds under the different Cd treatments were analyzed. These results indicated that trehalose, erythritol, naphthalene, d-pinitol and n-octacosane might be closely related to the Cd stabilization, phosphoric acid, tetradecanoic acid, oxalic acid, threonic acid and glycine could be attributed to the Cd mobilization, and mannitol, oleic acid, 3-hydroxybutanoic acid, fructose, octacosanol and ribitol could copy well with the Cd stress.     

不同品种小麦与蚕豆间作对蚕豆枯萎病的防治及其机理

通过田间小区试验和水培试验,研究了3个品种小麦（云麦42、云麦47和绵阳29）与蚕豆间作对蚕豆地上部生物量、枯萎病发生、根际微生物代谢功能多样性和枯萎病病原菌尖孢镰刀菌数量的影响,分析了3个不同小麦品种低分子量根系分泌物组分（糖、氨基酸和有机酸）的差异.结果表明： 云麦42与蚕豆间作（YM42/B）和云麦47与蚕豆间作（YM47/B）使蚕豆地上部生物量分别增加16.6%和13.4%,使蚕豆枯萎病病情指数分别降低47.6%和23.3%,绵阳29与蚕豆间作（MY29/B）对蚕豆地上部生物量和枯萎病病情指数均无显著影响.与单作蚕豆相比,YM42/B和YM47/B处理均显著提高了蚕豆根际微生物的平均颜色变化率（AWCD)及对碳源的总利用强度和Biolog ECO板中各种碳源的利用,明显改变了蚕豆根际微生物群落结构,并显著降低了蚕豆根际的尖孢镰刀菌数量;MY29/B处理对AWCD值、碳源总利用强度和Biolog ECO板中各种碳源的利用及蚕豆根际尖孢镰刀菌数量均无显著影响,也未明显改变蚕豆根际的微生物群落结构.3个小麦品种根系分泌物中可溶性糖、游离氨基酸总量和有机酸总量均表现为MY29＞YM47＞YM42.MY29根系分泌物中丝氨酸、谷氨酸、甘氨酸、缬氨酸、蛋氨酸、苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸的含量均显著高于YM42和YM47;精氨酸为YM42、YM47所特有,而亮氨酸为MY29所特有.MY29和YM47根系分泌物中检出酒石酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸、琥珀酸、延胡索酸和顺乌头酸6种有机酸,而YM42根系分泌物中检出洒石酸、苹果酸、柠檬酸和延胡索酸4种有机酸,且MY29和YM47根系分泌物中苹果酸含量显著高于YM42.小麦与蚕豆间作提高了蚕豆根际微生物的活性和碳源利用强度,改变了根际微生物的群落结构,降低了蚕豆根际尖孢镰刀菌的数量,促进了蚕豆生长,抑制了蚕豆枯萎病的发生,但小麦与蚕豆间作控病效果受小麦品种的影响,表明间作系统中非寄主作物根系分泌物的差异是影响间作对土传病害控制的重要因素.     

Biochemical Adaptation of Barley Root Cells to Toxic Substances. II. Effect of Heavy Metals on Phosphohydrolase Activity

We studied the effect of heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb on the activity of membrane-bound and soluble phosphohydrolases of barley root cell apoplast. The effect of heavy metals on the activity of acid phosphatase and acid nucleotidases proved to depend on the presence of calcium and magnesium ions in the incubation buffer, the condition and form of the enzymes, as well as the dose and moment of the addition of heavy metals. We propose changing the activity of acid phosphohydrolases in barley root cell apoplast as a possible mechanism of barley adaptation to the toxic effect of heavy metals.     

有机酸对Pd 、Cd的土壤化学行为和植株效应的影响

有机酸对Pd,Cd的络合作用将其对土壤吸附Pd,Cd的影响和植株效应差异的研究表明,柠檬酸,草酸与Pd,Cd络合能力的大小与重金属本身的性质有关,络合作用影响土壤对Pd,Cd的吸附量,柠檬酸降低土壤对Pd,Cd的吸附,草酸则增加土壤对Pd,Cd的吸附,水培试验表明,柠檬酸可减轻Pb对小麦,水稻幼苗的毒害,柠檬酸对Cd的植株外观毒性效应影响不显著,但能促使植株茎叶,根中Cd含量下降,Pd和Cd复合处理条件下,Cd存在促使水稻植株对Pd吸收量增加,Pd存在抑制水稻植株对Cd的吸收。     

有机酸对Pb、Cd的土壤化学行为和植株效应的影响

有机酸对Pb、Cd的络合作用将其对土壤吸附Pb、Cd的影响和植株效应差异的研究表明,柠檬酸、草酸与Pb、Cd络合能力的大小与重金属本身的性质有关,络合作用影响土壤对Pb、Cd的吸附量,柠檬酸降低土壤对Pb、Cd的吸附,草酸则增加土壤对Pb、Cd的吸附.水培试验表明,柠檬酸可减轻Pb对小麦、水稻幼苗的毒害.柠檬酸对Cd的植株外观毒性效应影响不显著,但能促使植株茎叶、根中Cd含量下降.Pb和Cd复合处理条件下,Cd存在促使水稻植株对Pb吸收量增加,Pb存在抑制水稻植株对Cd的吸收.     

锌、镉及其复合胁迫下白花泡桐幼苗的生理及富集特征

采用水培培养的试验方法,研究白花泡桐幼苗在锌 (Zn)、镉 (Cd) 单一及复合胁迫下的生理生化响应及对重金属的富集、转移特征变化。结果表明,单一及复合重金属胁迫下,白花泡桐的生物量、株高及过氧化物酶 (Peroxidase,POD) 活性均随处理浓度的增加而降低。在复合污染下,Zn、Cd在植株的株高及生物量上表现出拮抗作用。与对照比,单一胁迫下,随着Zn浓度的增加,白花泡桐叶绿素含量和过氧化氢酶 (Catalase,CAT) 活性先增加后减小,超氧化物歧化酶 (Superoxide dismutase,SOD) 活性升高,地上部丙二醛 (Malondialdehyde,MDA) 含量先减小后增加;随着Cd浓度的增加,叶绿素含量和过氧化氢酶 (CAT) 活性升高,超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 活性及地上部丙二醛 (MDA) 含量先增加后减小,复合胁迫下,则表现出更加复杂的生理响应。白花泡桐幼苗对Cd的富集部位集中在根部;对Zn的富集部位集中在地上部,且转移系数大于1.00;Zn的加入会促进重金属向地上部分的转移;白花泡桐具有对复合重金属污染地进行有效的生态恢复的潜力。     

The isochorismate pathway is negatively regulated by salicylic acid signaling in O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-exposed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

Phytochelatins (PCs) are heavy metal binding peptides that play an important role in sequestration and detoxification of heavy metals in plants. In this study, our goal was to develop transgenic plants with increased tolerance for and accumulation of heavy metals from soil by expressing an Arabidopsis thaliana AtPCS1 gene, encoding phytochelatin synthase (PCS), in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). A 35S promoter fused to a FLAG–tagged AtPCS1 cDNA was expressed in Indian mustard, and transgenic lines, designated pc lines, were evaluated for tolerance to and accumulation of Cd and Zn. Transgenic plants with moderate AtPCS1 expression levels showed significantly higher tolerance to Cd and Zn stress, but accumulated significantly less Cd and Zn than wild type plants in both shoot and root tissues. However, transgenic plants with highest expression of the transgene did not exhibit enhanced Cd and Zn tolerance. Shoots of Cd-treated pc plants had significantly higher levels of phytochelatins and thiols than wild-type plants. Significantly lower concentrations of gluthatione in Cd-treated shoot and root tissues of transgenic plants were observed. Moderate expression levels of phytochelatin synthase improved the ability of Indian mustard to tolerate certain levels of heavy metals, but at the same time did not increase the accumulation potential for Cd and Zn.