Superoxide production induced by short-term exposure of barley roots to cadmium, auxin, alloxan and sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Abiotic stress-induced superoxide generation depending on its localization, level, duration and presumably also on the action of other signals may lead to different stress responses. The purpose of this study was to analyze the alterations in superoxide generation and morphogenesis following short-term Cd, IAA and alloxan treatments, during stress and recovery period in barley root tips. At low Cd concentration the transient accumulation of superoxide in the epidermal cells was accompanied by root growth inhibition and radial expansion of cortical cells in the elongation zone of root tips.