Effect of foliar application of cadmium on morphological, physiological characteristics and development of male and female gametophytes in Artemisia annua

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological, physiological, and pollen grain and ovule developmental changes under Cd stress in Artemisia annua L.

In this study, Cd accumulation in plant tissues, growth factors, relative water content of tissue, membrane stability index, photosynthetic pigments content, soluble carbohydrates content, total protein content, antioxidant enzymes activity, seed protein pattern and, developmental stages of pollen grains and ovules were studied under foliar treatment of Cd (0, 75, 150 and 225 mg l-1).

The results showed that A.annua can accumulate Cd. Significant decrease in growth factors, relative water content, membrane stability index, photosynthetic pigments content, soluble carbohydrates content and increase in total protein content, antioxidant enzymes activity were observed. Changes in seed protein pattern, embryonic sac cells degeneration, and the increase of abnormalities in microspores and pollen grains were the abnormalities observed in the plants under treatment.

According to the results of this study, A.annua has a high resistance to Cd stress and can survive under high concentrations of Cd. The results indicate that Cd can affect the developmental stages of reproductive organs and causes a variety of abnormalities during the developmental stages of male and female reproductive organs but it seems that A.annua has been able to resist the negative effects of Cd by changing its physiological properties and proteins contents.