Copper stress in cannabis sativaroots: Morphological and pro-teomic analysis

This work investigated copper effect on the root morphology and root proteome of Cannabis sativa plants grown in the absence or in the presence of 150 ppm CuSO₄. Copper is an essential trace element in plants, but it becomes strongly phytotoxic at high concentrations. Root systems, though genetically determined, are very plastic and can be affected by a number of environmental factors, including metals. The resulting differences in root morphology and protein expression were indicative of a good C. sativa tolerance to copper. A group of proteins involved into plant adaptation to metal chronic stress has been detected.