Maize seedlings were treated with various concentrations of copper (25-100 µM) without EDTA and with EDTA for 120 hours. A sever and progressive decrease of root length and dry weight and an increase in K+ leakage with increasing Cu in nutrient solution was observed in the treated plants with Cu without EDTA. The roots accumulated significantly higher amounts of Cu than the shoot. With increasing Cu concentrations, amounts of Ca, Mg, K and Fe decreased in roots and in shoot. Application of EDTA with Cu caused increased dry weight and root length but decreased K+ leakage into nutrient solution. Application of EDTA increased Cu accumulation in roots but decreased it in shoot and caused a different effect on other minerals contents. Overall, EDTA could reduce copper toxicity in Maize seedlings.

Keywords: maize, Copper, EDTA, Ca, Mg, K, Fe and K+ leakage

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