Abstract
Three kinds of phytochelatins, (γ-Glu-Cys)2-Gly [PC2], (γ-Glu-Cys)3-Gly [PC3], and (γ-Glu-Cys)4-Gly [PC4], were synthesized in callus induced from parenchymatous tissues of pumpkin fruit when it was transplanted to liquid medium containing 40μM CdSO4. After transplantation, PC2 and PC3 were found within 1 day and PC4 was found in several days. Glutathione level in the callus cultures rapidly decreased to 30-40% of the initial level, though glutathione appeared to be newly produced during synthesis of phytochelatin. Addition of 2mM glutathione to the Cd-containing medium increased glutathione and phytochelatin levels in the pumpkin callus cultures, suggesting that glutathione level might be one of the factors controlling the maximum amount of phytochelatin synthesis in the callus cultures. Phytochelatin synthesis was induced by Cd, Ag and Hg. High concentrations of Ni and Zn were also able to induce it. On the other hand, accumulation of the three phytochelatins and the decrease of glutathione level were also observed in the parenchymatous tissues of pumpkin fruit treated with 15μM Cd for 4 days.
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