Abstract:
The objectives of this research were to investigate; 1) pigment changes in Riceberry leaves, 2) contents of silicon (Si) and qualities of silicon bodies in all parts of Riceberry, 3) to assess anti-oxidative levels in Riceberry roots, and 4) to search for phytochelatins formation in Riceberry roots. The results of this research were as the followings: 1) Cadmium significantly reduced the chlorophyll contents over the control by 71.76% and 90.63%; and carotenoid contents by 21.13% and 74.38% in Cd 250 µM treated and Cd 2500 µM treated, respectively, while the anthocyanin did not show significant changes. 2. The amount of silicon as assayed by ICP-OES varied in the three groups. Study by SEM showed that the silicon bodies appeared in an orderly fashion in control while Cd 250 µM and Cd 2500 µM treated showed less order patterns. 3. The levels of reactive oxygen species increased over control in Cd 250 µM and Cd 2500 µM treated at values of 8.69 % and 30.43 %. 4. Phytochelatins could not be detected in roots of all plant groups under investigation. However, data from the SEM works indicated interesting points related to the rhizofiltration process of Riceberry that warranted deeper investigatio