Cadmium against Higher Plant Photosynthesis Ð a Variety of Effects and Where Do They Possibly Come From?

and Where Do They Possibly Come From? Zbigniew Krupa* Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, 2 0 -0 3 3 Lublin, Poland. Fax: (48-81) 5375102 . E-mail: [email protected] * Author for correspondence and reprint requests Z. Naturforsch. 5 4c , 7 2 3 -7 2 9 (1999); received December 15, 1998/March 2, 1999 Cadmium, Higher Plants, Photosynthesis The complexity of in vivo toxic effects of Cd on higher plants makes almost impossible an accurate distinction between direct and indirect mechanisms of its action on the photosyn­ thetic apparatus. We, therefore, postulate that multiple Cd effects on plant physiological and metabolic processes may finally be focused on photosynthesis. This would also explain the phenomenon that only a small fraction of Cd entering chloroplasts may cause such disastrous changes in their structure and function. In return, the inhibition of photosynthesis affects numerous metabolic pathways dependent on the primary carbon metabolism.