Cadmium against higher plant photosynthesis - a variety of effects and where do they possibly come from?

The complexity of in vivo toxic effects of Cd on higher plants makes almost impossible an accurate distinction between direct and indirect mechanisms of its action on the photosynthetic apparatus. We, therefore, postulate tha t multiple Cd effects on plant physiological and metabolic processes may fi nally be focused on photosynthesis. This would also explain the phenomenon that only a small fraction of Cd entering chloroplasts may cause such disas trous changes in their structure and function. In return, the inhibition of photosynthesis affects numerous metabolic pathways dependent on the primar y carbon metabolism.