A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate: (a) the soil Cd and Zn availability to maize plants with and without liming, using the DTPA, EDTA, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3 extractants; (b) The effect of Cd and Zn doses on plant growth and metal accumulation in maize; and (c) toxicity symptoms and anatomical changes in leaves and roots exposed to Cd and zinc. Maize was grown for 30 days in soil contaminated with either Cd (0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 mg kg-1) or Zn (0, 10, 30, 50, 100, 150 mg kg-1). Highly significant correlations were found between all extractants tested and metal plant contents. The metal addition to soil reduced biomass production and increased Cd and Zn plant contents. The critical toxicity value for Cd in soil varied from 8.7 to 13.1 mg kg-1, whereas for Zn this value lied between 74.1 to 110.7 mg kg-1, depending on liming and extractant type. Interveinal and marginal chlorosis together with necrosis in the leaf apex and along the margins were observed for Zn treatments. On the other hand, leaf chlorosis, shriveling and curling were the most common symptoms in cadmium-damaged plants. Increased cell wall lignification in vascular tissues, epidermis, collenchyma, and endoderm cells were associated to critical toxicity values of Cd and Zn in soil.
heavy metals; chemical extractants; lignification; trace elements
