Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Sprouts Respiratory Responses to Cadmium Stress Using IR LPAS

Cadmium (Cd) is not considered a fundamental element for plants inducing general growth disturbances and inhibition in many species of plants. The purpose of our research was to examine the ethylene (C₂H₄) and ammonia (NH₃), emissions in alfalfa sprouts with or without Cd, using infrared laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (IR LPAS), in order to suggest new markers that may add a better knowledge of Cd effect. The responses of alfalfa sprouts to C₂H₄ and NH₃ may fluctuate, depending on tissue sensitivity and the phase of plant development. From the determinations of this study, the C₂H₄ was established to be inhibited, while NH₃ was established to be in a higher concentration with the amount of Cd added to the alfalfa seeds for growth when the values were correlated to the control and BIOalfalfa sprouts (Sonnentor).