Salicylic acid signals wheat durum defense against cadmium toxicity

The current paper scrutinizes the combined Cadmium (Cd)/Salicylic acid (SA) treatment effects in a plant model: durum wheat (Triticum durum) of the GTA variety. Pretreatment with appropriate levels of SA showed a mitigating effect on Cd damage. Further, treated seeds with cadmium and pretreated with a high concentration of salicylic acid showed a higher germination percentage than control seeds. Thus, these results highlight the increase of protein levels average in the SA pre-treated roots by SA; in those sprayed with Cd the increase is less important than in those which are not pre-treated. The measurement of the enzymes involved in detoxification, namely catalase and ascorbate-peroxidase reveal that watering with Cd without pretreatment tends to stimulate these enzymes in comparison with those pre-treated with SA. The respiratory metabolism reveals a stimulation of respiratory activity in cadmium-treated roots, whereas the pretreatment by salicylic acid tends to decrease stimulation of respiratory activity and to bring it closer to controls.