Changes of Thiols and Oxidative Stress in Tomato Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium

Changes of Thiols and Oxidative Stress in Tomato Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) seedlings exposed to various concentrations of $CdCl_2(0{\sim}100{\mu}M)$ in a nutrient solution for up to 9 days were analyzed with respect to the thiol changes and oxidative stress. The Cd exposure increased total non-protein thiols (NPT) and cysteine in both leaves and roots, total glutathione in leaves, and the ratios of oxidized glutathione (GSSG)/reduced glutathione (GSH) in both leaves and roots, but decreased the ratio of dehydroascorbate (DASA)/ascorbate(ASA) in leaves. Our results suggest that the Cd-induced GSH depletion due to thiol synthesis and oxidation alters the antioxidant activity of seedlings for $H_2O_2$, and the subsequent $H_2O_2$ accumulationand oxidative stress result in phytotoxicity.