| Abstract: | Rooted cuttings of Populus nigra L. clone Poli and Salix alba L. clone SS5 were treated for three weeks with 50 μM CdSO4 in nutrient solution. The willow showed a far higher Cd tolerance, expressed as tolerance index (Ti), than the poplar in
both roots and leaves. The root Cd content was higher in poplar than in willow, whereas in leaves the opposite was found.
As a consequence, the translocation factor (Tf) revealed a greater ability of Cd transport in willow than in poplar. Cd treatment
enhanced cysteine, γ-glutamylcysteine and reduced glutathione contents in roots of both species, whereas in leaves they were
only enhanced in poplar. Furthermore, only poplar leaves showed an enhanced content of phytochelatins, whereas malic and citric
acids rose in response to Cd only in the willow leaves. Cd treatment increased putrescine, spermidine and spermine contents
in both roots and leaves of the willow, whereas in poplar only the putrescine content was enhanced in roots. |
