Influence of He-Ne laser irradiation and cadmium and lead on changes in cell cycles at Zea mays L.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of red radiation emitted by helium-neon laser (He-Ne) with a wavelength λ = 632.8 nm and trace elements: cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), as cadmium nitrate and lead nitrate solutions, at 30 ppm concentrations, on the cell cycle of root-tip meristem cells in maize. Red light stimulated the mitotic activity of the meristemic cells of the maize root-tip meristem growth after irradiation of seed samples with simultaneous treatment in the presence of Cd or Pb. The mitotic index was inhibited when the seeds were treated with distilled water with the addition of Cd or Pb salts. Seeds treated with laser had significantly the highest mitotic index. Results revealed that maize seed pre-treatment with the red light protects the root-tip meristem cells against the mitodepressive effect of Cd and Pb ions. Seed biomodulation using red light emitted by He-Ne laser can positively effect the germination and plant growth.