Abstract
<p class="Els-Abstract-text">Plants growing in soil containing heavy metal polutan such as chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) will be stunted, and increase production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). In dealing with the excess amount of ROS, plants have an enzymatic defense system, using superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxide (APX). The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the <em>Sonchus oleraceus</em> (Linnaeus, 1753) plant response to heavy metals stress, seen from the growth and antioxidative defense enzymatically. Research carried out using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and five replicates. The metal treatment was 10 mg · L<sup>–1</sup>. The presence of heavy metals in the growing medium significantly decreased the plant height and leaf area, so the impact is on the weight of wet and dry weight. The metal treatments of Cr, Cd, Pb and Cu increase the activity of SOD and APX enzymes but decrease the activity of the CAT enzyme. Chromium is a metal that has a significant influence on the growth and activity of SOD, APX, and CAT enzymes in <em>S. oleraceus</em>.</p><div><p class="Els-keywords"><strong>Keywords:</strong> antioxidative responses; growth; heavy metal; <em>Sonchus oleraceus; </em>toxicity.</p></div>
Highlights
Heavy metal pollution is one of the problems of the environment in which the presence of a metal in the soil, air and waters exceeds the threshold and being toxic
Heavy metal pollution lead to various problems including the disruption of the growth of soil organisms and plants as well as the problems associated with aesthetics [2]
The provision of heavy metals Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr in plants S. oleraceus not lead to a decrease in the number of leaves significantly compared to controls (Figure 3)
Summary
Heavy metal pollution is one of the problems of the environment in which the presence of a metal in the soil, air and waters exceeds the threshold and being toxic. Heavy metals are naturally contained in the soil but can come from agricultural and industrial waste as well as the burning of transportation. Heavy metal pollution lead to various problems including the disruption of the growth of soil organisms and plants as well as the problems associated with aesthetics (discoloration and odor) [2]. Heavy metals can be essential for plants for example copper (Cu), but Cu is only needed in very small amounts, the exessive concentration can be toxic to plants. Heavy metals that are non-essential for plants such as lead
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