HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, K. C. Articles by Liang, G. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lee, K. C. Articles by Liang, G. H. Agricola Articles by Lee, K. C. Articles by Liang, G. H.

Lead Effects on Several Enzymes and Nitrogenous Compounds in Soybean Leaf¹

ABSTRACT

To obtain further evidence on the nature of lead toxicity in plants, we investigated the Pb²⁺ effect of several enzyme activities and nitrogenous compounds in soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Columbus). Soybean seedlings were grown in culture solution treated with lead nitrate so that final concentrations of lead (Pb²⁺) were 0, 20, 60, and 100 mg/liter. Soybean leaves were analyzed 10 days after lead was added to the solution.

Results showed increased respiration rate, increased activities of acid phosphatase, peroxidase and alpha-amylase, and increases in soluble protein and ammonia. There was no significant change in malic dehydrogenase, and total free amino acids. A decrease was observed for glutamine synthetase activity and nitrate. Leaf calcium and phosphorus decreased as the lead concentration was increased in the culture solution.

Increased activities of the hydrolytic enzymes and peroxidase indicates that the lead treatment enhances senescence.

Key Words: heavy metal • respiration

¹ Contribution No. 1536, Dep. of Agronomy, and Contrib. No. 172, Dep. of Biochemistry, Kansas Agric. Exp. Stn., Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS 66506. Supported by a Herman Frasch Found. Grant No. 327800.

² Former Postdoctoral Fellow, now Associate Professor, Chung-Hsin Univ., Taiwan; Associate Professor of Biochemistry; Research Associate; Professor; and Associate Professor of Agronomy, respectively.

Received for publication November 4, 1975.