Effects of Cadmium on Water Content, Soluble Protein, Proline Changes and Some Antioxidant Enzymes in Wheat (Triticum durum desf.) Leaves

The effect of Cadmium stress on plant growth, oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme of wheat seedlings (Triticum durum Desf.) was evaluated in this study. Cadmium stress decreased plant growth, lowered the relative water content and caused oxidative damage, as characterised by increased antioxidative enzymes in wheat leaves such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaÑ—acol peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT). As a response to increasing Cadmium supply particular increases in antioxidative mechanisms in wheat cultivar Simeto suggest that the high Cadmium sensitivity of Simeto is related to enhanced production and oxidative damage of reactive oxygen species.