Breeding for low cadmium accumulation cereals.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Toxicology

Background:

• Cadmium (Cd) is a nonessential, highly toxic element impacting plant growth and human health through the food chain.
• Soil contamination with Cd poses risks to crop yields and food safety, necessitating strategies to reduce dietary Cd intake.
• Low-Cd crop cultivars offer a cost-effective approach to minimize human exposure to Cd from agricultural products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize the current state of low-cadmium cereal breeding.
• To highlight the importance of developing low-Cd cultivars for food safety and human health.
• To discuss the role of conventional and molecular breeding in achieving low-Cd cereal production.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on low-Cd cereal cultivars and breeding strategies.
• Analysis of criteria for low-Cd cultivars, including yield, quality, and Cd concentration in edible parts.
• Discussion of conventional breeding, cultivar screening, and molecular marker-assisted selection.

Main Results:

• Several low-Cd cereal cultivars and genotypes have been identified and developed globally.
• Cultivar screening and conventional breeding have been instrumental in developing low-Cd varieties.
• Molecular markers significantly facilitate the selection process for low-Cd cereal cultivars.

Conclusions:

• Low-Cd cereal breeding is a vital strategy for mitigating Cd contamination risks in agriculture and human diets.
• The integration of modern molecular breeding technologies with conventional methods holds great promise for accelerating the development of safe, low-Cd cereal cultivars.
• Continued research and breeding efforts are essential to ensure food security and public health in Cd-affected regions.