Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
Abstract
Phytochelatins are the principal heavy metal-detoxifying components in plants. To investigate phytochelatin (PHC) production and the importance of these compounds for heavy metal tolerance, sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was exposed to cadmium. The leaves and roots of sunflower plants cultivated in the presence of 15, 25 and 50 M Cd(NO3)2 for 3
and 9 days showed increased tolerance to cadmium and contained higher concentrations of phytochelatins. The phytochelatin level was assayed by using HPLC and the Cd level was determined by atomic spectrum analysis