ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Regulatory Effect of Spermine on Growth and Antioxidant System in Tomato Seedlings Grown in the Presence of Cadmium

The protective role of exogenous supplied polyamines such as spermine in detoxifying the cadmium induced toxicity was studied in the tomato plants Solanum lycopersicum, we applied a dose of (1 mM) spermine with cadmium (0, 20 and 100 µM) for 7 days. The results of the application of exogenous spermine with cadmium showed a significant attenuation of the toxic effects of metal for different growth parameters (fresh matter, dry matter, root length and aerial parts) and chlorophyll pigments, mainly after 3 days for leaves and roots. Moderation of spermine is more marked with 20 µM dose of cadmium. The stimulatory effect of cadmium on catalase activity (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxidedismutase (SOD) is partially lifted by presence of spermine in tomato. The accumulation of cadmium, proline and soluble sugars in cultivated plants with cadmium showed a reduction by presence of spermine. Moderation of cadmium toxicity by application of spermine in tomato could be explained by its antioxidants properties.