Toxic effects of cadmium, acetochlor and bensulfuron-methyl on nitrogen metabolism and plant growth in rice seedlings
The adverse effects of cadmium (Cd), acetochlor (AC), bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) alone and their coexistence
on nitrogen metabolism and plant growth in rice seedlings were studied with aquatic culture
experiments. The results demonstrated that in all exposure groups there were marked decrease in the
fresh weight of rice seedlings and the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) in
the roots and shoots, consequently leading to an increase in free amino acids content and decrease in soluble
protein content and nitrate content in the roots and shoots. These results suggested that the toxicity
of Cd, AC and BSM to the rice seedlings took place partly through the influence on nitrogen metabolism.