Abstract
Thirty-day-old seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were treated with different concentrations of HgCl$_2$(0. 10 and 50 $\mu$M) for up to 20 days. and the detailed distribution of Hg absorbed and its toxicity in different plant parts (roots, stems and leaves) were investigated. The accumulation of Hg in plants increased with external Hg concentrations. and Hg is strongly retained by roots. Further. Hg content in leaves was various. showing more accumulation in older leaves. Seedlings exposed to toxic levels of Hg showed not only the reduction of dry weight and length of both shoot and root. and chlorophyll levels in leaves but also the enhancement of malondialdehyde (a lipid peroxidation product) formation in all plant parts investigated. These results suggest that physiological impairment of a plant exposed to Hg may be achieved by internal distribution of Hg absorbed and Hg-induced oxidative stress in different plant parts.