Influence of Cadmium on its Metabolism and Changes of Content of Nutritionally Important Compounds in Spring Barley

Very important agriculture products are cereals, which significantly contributes to securing of human nutrient needs. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal, which is readily taken up and accumulated by plants in spite of its harmful effects. This metal cause a stress for the plants and results in many morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes. The effect of cadmium on the plant metabolism and changes in the content of nutritionally important compounds (protein and some metals – Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn content) was investigated. Results shown, that cadmium was effectively retained in the roots and content of studied compounds was influenced by present of cadmium in nutrient medium. In all the parts of cadmium-treated seedlings decrease in the iron content and increase in the zinc content (except of the first leaves) and decrease in the manganese content was found. The copper content in the root tissue increased by 112.1 %, on the other hand a significant decrease (by 44.4 % and 40.9 % respectively) in the first and the second leaves was observed. In the experimental varieties with cadmium in the concentration of 10-5 mol L-1, the content of soluble proteins was determined statistically higher in the root and basal parts than in the controlled varieties