Selcuk University Journal of Science Faculty

Öz

Copper (Cu) is an essential metal for all living things, in plants copper is an essential cofactor for many metal-proteins and participates in various biochemical and physiological processes. However, it may produces toxic effects in different concentrations. Plants are generally very sensitive to copper toxicity. When the copper level in the tissues is slightly higher than normal levels, they cause metabolic disruptions and inhibit the growth of the plant. High quantity of copper may to lead the inhibition prohibition of many enzymes; it influences plant biochemistry, consisting of photosynthesis, pigment synthesis, and membrane stability. Copper that accumulates in the cell leads to the generation of free radicals triggering the peroxidation chain reaction including membrane lipids and causes the inhibition of photosynthetic electron transportation. Excess copper may lead to oxidative stress in plants by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Copper has a broad effect on plant physiology, including its interaction with fatty acid and protein metabolism, inhibition of cellular respiration and nitrogen fixation. It is an efficient inhibitor of vegetative growth and often causes symptoms of senecence. In this study; in addition to the effects of high concentrations of copper on plant morphology, physiology and biochemistry, its effects at the transcriptional level were also studied.