Localization of cadmium in granules within differentiating and mature root cells

Abstract

Cadmium was found in electron-dense granules inside root parenchyma cells of Agrostis gigantea Roth and of Zea mays L. (maize) exposed to 3 mmol m −3 CdSO 4 . Cadmium-bearing granules were found in the cytoplasm and vacuoles of differentiating and mature cells and in nuclei of undifferentiated cells. Cadmium-bearing granules were absent from cell walls and epidermal cells. In addition to Cd, the electron-dense granules contained variable proportions of Ca, Fe, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn.