EN
Maize seedlings grown in a nutrient solution were treated with Cd (50, 100 μM) or Cu (50, 100 μM). Roots and separated leaf sections (from the youngest–– basal, through the middle––mature, to the oldest––apical) were analysed. Shoot and root fresh weight, and root net growth rates were reduced significantly after Cu application in comparison to Cd. Copper (50, 100 μM) and cadmium (100 μM) decreased the sum of chlorophyll and total carotenoid pools mostly in mature and old leaf sections. The concentration of Cu and Cd increased in the old and mature leaf sections. Analysis of organic acids showed that both metals differently influenced the lowmolecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) content in maize leaf sections. In mature sections, the excess Cu increased the succinate and tartrate contents, whereas in the young ones mainly the tartrate level was elevated. Cadmium elevated citrate accumulation in mature and old sections, compared to the control plants. Malate, the main LMWOA in maize leaves, increased only after addition of 100 μM of Cd (mature and old sections) or 50 μM of Cu (old sections). Analysis of LMWOAs in roots showed that the excess of Cd or Cu induced higher accumulation of tartrate and malate and, additionally, copper increased the citrate content.