Utilizing Electrochemical Techniques for Detection of Biological Samples
Page: 225
a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, b Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and c Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, d Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, e Radanal Ltd., Pardubice, f Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Zlín
Heavy metals rank among the most toxic compounds occurring in the environment; they are also dangerous due to bioaccumulation. Plants and animals have developed a number of protective mechanisms. The detoxification mechanisms of heavy metals in different organisms have been intensively studied for many years. We aimed at investigation of detoxification mechanisms of maize plants treated with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 400 and 500 μM Cd(II) solutions for six days. In particular, we observed their growth and determined the Cd content (by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry) and thiol concentration (by HPLC) in the treated plants. Maize plants took up 6 pg of Cd per gram per hour at the lowest dose and 23 pg Cd per g per hour at the highest Cd dose. The relations of glutathione and phytochelatin contents, applied Cd dose, cultivation time, growth curve and plant morphology were investigated.