| Pot experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of different zinc (Zn) levels (0, 100, 200, 400 and 600 μmol·L-1) on the plant growth,activities of antioxidant enzymes,contents of chlorophyll a and b,accumulation and chemical forms of cadmium (Cd) in Capsicum annuum L. when exposed to Cd (20 mg·kg-1). The results showed that dry weights of leaf,stem,fruit and root,and contents of chlorophyll a and b in Capsicum annuum L.were increased by Zn (≤ 400 μmol·L-1),while inhibited by high Zn (600 μmol·L-1).Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were reduced by Zn (≤400 μmol·L-1),the lowest activities of SOD and CAT were recorded in 400 μmol·L-1 Zn,but activities of SOD and CAT were increased when Zn>400 μmol·L-1.Cadmium concentrations in stem,fruit and root of Capsicum annuum L.were decreased by 2.7%-5.4%, 7.5%-28.1% and 7.6%-21.8% in the presence of Zn when exposed to Cd.The total extractable Cd,NaCl- extractable Cd,water- extractable Cd and ethanol-extractable Cd in fruit were reduced by 7.7%-21.8%, 4.11%-23.6%, 54.5%-66.8% and 4.8%-86.7% in the presence of Zn,while acetic acid- extractable Cd and residual Cd were increased by 28.0%-68.0% and 12.6%-25.0%. |
