Effect of cadmium on growth and respiration of barley plants grown under two temperature regimes

We studied cadmium effect on the respiratory pathways ratio in the organs of barley (Hordeum distichum L., cv. Novichok) plants grown in water culture at two temperature regimes. Mineral nutrients were supplied daily in exponentially increasing amounts in order to provide for steady-state growth. CdSO₄ (30, 60, or 100 μmol/l) was added to nutrient solution at a single time in the beginning of the exponential growth period (19 days after germination). In further 6 days, the relative growth rate and biomass accumulation declined stronger with the increase in the cadmium concentration in plants grown at 13/8°C (day/night) than at 21/17°C (day/night). Cadmium suppressed root respiration (down to 60% of control) stronger than leaf respiration, and the roots manifested a higher sensitivity to the inhibitor of alternative oxidase, salicylhydroxamic acid. The respiratory pathways ratio in the roots occurred against the background of activated lipid peroxidation (POL). The highest POL activity and the highest proportion of alternative respiration pathway (AP) (up to 46% of total respiration) were observed in the roots in the presence of the highest cadmium concentration (100 μM) under lower temperature (13/8°C). Thus, high cadmium concentrations affected strongly the total rate of respiration and respiratory pathways ratio. Growth temperature modulated Cd effects on respiration. AP activation is one of the mechanisms for maintenance of root cell homeostasis under cadmium-induced stress.