This study aims to establish whether zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) share similar physiological mechanisms for uptake and translocation in cacao plants (Theobroma cacao L.). Multiple-collector ICP-MS was used to determine the Zn stable isotope compositions in the roots, stems and leaves of 19 diverse cacao genotypes grown in hydroponics with 20 µmol L−1 CdCl2. Additional plants of one genotype were grown in hydroponic solutions containing lower Cd concentrations (0 and 5 µmol L−1 added CdCl2). Regardless of the Cd concentration used in the exposures, the Zn stable isotope compositions show the same systematic patterns in plant organs, with δ66Znroot > δ66Znstem > δ66Znleaf (δ66Zn denotes relative differences in 66Zn/64Zn ratios in parts per thousand). The mean Zn stable isotope fractionation between the plants and the hydroponic solutions was ε66Znuptake = –1.15 ± 0.36‰ (2SD), indicating preferential uptake of isotopically light Zn by plants from the hydroponic solution. The mean  stable isotope fractionation factor associated with translocation of Zn from roots to shoots, ε66Znseq-mob =  + 0.52 ± 0.36‰ (2SD), shows that isotopically heavy Zn is preferentially sequestered in the cacao roots, whilst isotopically light Zn is mobilised to the leaves. A comparison with the Cd stable isotope compositions of the same plants shows that both isotopically light Zn and Cd are preferentially taken up by cacao plants. In contrast to Zn, however, the cacao roots retain isotopically light Cd and transfer isotopically heavy Cd to the leaves.

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