Effects of Zinc toxicity in sugar beet plants grown in hydroponics

Abstract

Zinc is essential for cell physiological processes, has no redox activities but plays structural and/or catalytic roles in many processes, and it is the only metal present in all enzyme classes. However, at high concentrations Zn could be toxic. In most cases, an excess of Zn generates reactive oxygen species and/or displaces other metals from active sites in proteins. Zinc toxicity also induces chlorosis in young leaves, and this has been suggested to result from a Zn-induced Fe or Mg deficiency, based on the fact that the three metals have similar ion radii.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of high concentrations of Zn in the nutrient solution to establish a basis for studies of the mechanisms of heavy metal transport in this model plant species.