Effects of cadmium and zinc interactions on growth parameters and activities of ascorbate peroxidase on maize (Zea mays L. MAT 97)

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of zinc and cadmium heavy metals and the interaction of these heavy metals on mazie’s (Zea mays L. cv. MAT 97) root and shoot elongation, dry weight, root/shoot dry weight ratio and ascorbate peroxidase (AP) enzyme activity. Cd’s high concentration and treatment of this heavy metal with zinc had significant statistical effect on mazie root and shoot elongation. While zinc treatment had a positive effect on root elongation, Cd treatmen had a negative effect on shoot elongation. Therefore the treatment of Zn with Cd had positively effected shoot elongation. 10 and 15 μM Cd treated maize’s root and shoot dry weights had significantly decreased according to control and there has no significant stataistical diffrence between 5 μM Zn or Cd+Zn treated maize regarding shoot dry weight. The differences in root and shoot water% ratio and root/shoot ratio are found to be insignificant. The increase of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activity in 10 μM, 15 μM Cd and 5 μM Zn and Zn+Cd treated maize is found to be in significant levels according to control