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Cadmium: toxicity and tolerance in plants
S Aiman Hasan1, Q Fariduddin, B Ali
1Plant Physiology Section, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
Journal of Environmental Biology
|February 4, 2010
Summary
Cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants causes growth issues and affects vital functions. This review details Cd uptake, movement, and its impact on plant physiology, including oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Physiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal of significant concern in soil science and plant nutrition.
- Cd's potential human toxicity and mobility in soil-plant systems necessitate a thorough understanding of its effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the toxic effects of cadmium on plants.
- To elucidate the mechanisms of cadmium uptake, translocation, and deposition.
- To explore cadmium-induced oxidative stress and chelation processes in plants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on cadmium toxicity in plants.
- Analysis of research on plant physiological and biochemical responses to cadmium.
- Synthesis of findings on cadmium transport, accumulation, and detoxification mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Cadmium exposure causes growth retardation and disrupts photosynthesis, stomatal movement, enzymatic activities, and water relations.
- Cd interferes with essential mineral uptake, protein metabolism, and membrane functioning in plants.
- Mechanisms of Cd uptake, translocation, deposition, and chelation, including identification of Cd ligands, are detailed.
- Cadmium-induced oxidative stress is a prominent and well-studied aspect of Cd toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Cadmium poses significant risks to plant health, impacting numerous physiological processes.
- Understanding Cd's journey through the soil-plant system is crucial for managing its toxicity.
- Further research into chelation and oxidative stress mechanisms can inform strategies to mitigate cadmium's adverse effects on plants.
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