Cadmium induced changes in the photosystem II photochemistry of the thylakoid membranes of wheat (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) primary leaves

Abstract

The treatment of Cd (NO3)2 to wheat plants caused inhibition photosystem (PS) II catalyzed electron transport in a concentration dependent manner. Cadmium induced inhibition is light illumination dependent indicatory the target for cadmium (250 – 750 μM) action is light harvesting complex of PS II. Chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence measurement also supported the above preposition by exhibiting the increase in Fo fluorescence. The other possible reaction for the alteration in PS II catalyzed activity is increased lipid peroxidation in thylakoid membranes under cadmium stress. Thus, cadmium alters the PS II catalyzed electron transport by affecting to the light harvesting complex II and thylakoid lipid organization in wheat primary leaves.