The endomembranes response to cadmium in plants

Heavy metals and metalloids are naturally present in the Earth's crust, while some serve as essential micronutrients, non-essential elements such as cadmium (Cd) are highly toxic even at very low concentrations. Cd contamination has become a severe environmental problem threatening both plant development and food safety. Recent evidence highlights that the plant endomembrane system is not only a structural platform but also an active defense mechanism against Cd stress, mediating sensing, transport, detoxification, and compartmentalization. Importantly, Cd tolerance depends on dynamic endomembrane remodeling, protein trafficking, and organelle crosstalk, extending far beyond classical transcriptional regulation. Despite increasing research, a comprehensive integration of these processes is still lacking. Here, we summarize the structural changes and functional mechanisms of key organelles including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus (GA), and vacuoles etc. under Cd stress. By emphasizing the dynamic regulation of trafficking machinery and inter-organelle communication, we propose a conceptual framework that links endomembrane behavior with Cd detoxification. This perspective provides new insights into plant Cd tolerance mechanisms and offers scientific guidance for heavy metal phytoremediation and the breeding of Cd-tolerance crops.