Effect of cadmium on flavonoid content in young barley (Hordeum sativum L.) plants

The effect of an abiotic stress caused by cadmium on the total flavonoid content in roots, shoots and leaf blades of spring barley variety Kompakt grown in a climate-control room for 28 days was investigated. Total flavonoid content (F) was determined spectrophotometrically with sodium nitrite, Cd content by atomic absorption spectrometry. Treatment of barley plants with Cd (1.10(-6) mol/1) in nutrition solution caused the decrease of F in the all parts of the plant. The relatively highest decrease was found in the roots (from 20.0 to 3.05 g/kg dry matter), lesser decrease in the shoots (from 24.2 to 9.33 g/kg dry matter) and the leaf blades (from 58.3 to 27.3 g/kg dry matter). Statistically significant decrease (at least P < 0.05) of F and increase of Cd contents in all the investigated parts of the plant was found. Statistically significant differences of F and Cd contents among barley roots, shoots, and leaf blades were found.