Vegetos

Abstract

The present study was performed to explore potential of Moringa oleifera for cadmium tolerance and induced changesin the chlorophyll content as well as metallothioneins protein level. M. oleifera seedlings were treated with different concentrations (1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM and 5 mM) of CdCl₂and kept under controlled photoperiod in the green house. The effects of Cd on soluble and metallothioneins protein content were analyzed at 10, 20, 30 and 40 days of stress period. Total pigment content was also checked at various concentrations with each growth period. Metallothionein proteins isolated from treated leaves showed a differential pattern of polypeptides compared to control at 40 days. Elevated level of metallothioniens proteins with increasing Cd concentration (1 mM < 2 mM < 3 mM < 5 mM) was reported in Cd treated leaves. The maximum metallothioneins content 95.99?mol g⁻¹ × 10⁻³ at 30 days was highly prominent to assess the effects of 5 mM Cdin seedlings.