Graviperceptional Changes in the Roots of Cadmium-Treated Soybean Seedlings

Plant ischolar_mains are the main organs through which water, nutrients and pollutants enter the plant body. The ischolar_mains of soybean plants exhibited absence of ischolar_main caps and damaged ischolar_mains when treated with heavy metal cadmium beyond 20 μM. Normally, the ischolar_mains perceive gravity and grow towards it; but, with heavy metal exposure they become gravi-irresponsive and start growing against the gravity and law of nature. As the graviperception sensors lie in the ischolar_main cap, ischolar_mains lose directional growth in the absence of ischolar_main caps and keep growing in the direction of hilum positioning inside the substratum. So far, no study has reported that heavy metals can cause loss of graviperception in the ischolar_mains of plants.