Effects of external phosphorus on the cell ultrastructure and the chlorophyll content of maize under cadmium and zinc stress

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, it was found that the ultrastructure of chloroplasts were changed, the shape of the chloroplasts altered and the numbers of grana that were asymmetrical increased; the numbers of grana and thylakoids decreased under the stress of Cd and Zn. The results indicated that the complex pollution involving Cd and Zn resulted in the membrane system of chloroplasts being damaged. When external phosphorus was applied, the numbers of damaged chloroplasts were significantly reduced and the nucleoli were better formed than those that did not receive phosphorus treatment. Moreover, many phosphate deposits were found in the vacuoles and on the surface of the roots, which were formed by phosphorus complexing with Cd (Ksp = 2.53 × 10−33) and Zn (Ksp = 9.00 × 10−33), respectively. Treatment with phosphorus conduced an increased chlorophyll content in plants compared with those that did not receive external phosphorus.