Cadmium Accumulation in Peruvian Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) and Opportunities for Mitigation

Zug, Katharina; Yupanqui, Hugo Alfredo Huamaní; Meyberg, Frank; Cierjacks, Julia Susanne; Cierjacks, Arne

doi:10.1007/s11270-019-4109-x

Cited by 48 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…Crops that represent significant dietary sources of Cd include rice 2 , leafy [4][5][6] and other vegetables 7 , and also cacao (Theobroma cacao), the beans of which are the source of chocolate. The Cd contents of cacao beans show large regional variations, with the highest levels reported for material from South and Central America [8][9][10][11][12][13] . In this region, the Cd concentrations of cacao beans commonly exceed 0.6 to 0.8 mg kg −1 10 , which is the approximate upper range for cocoa products that meet the new European Union (EU) regulations that came into force in 2019 14 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cadmium isotope fractionation reveals genetic variation in Cd uptake and translocation by Theobroma cacao and role of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 5 and heavy metal ATPase-family transporters

et al. 2020

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In response to new European Union regulations, studies are underway to mitigate accumulation of toxic cadmium (Cd) in cacao (Theobroma cacao, Tc). This study advances such research with Cd isotope analyses of 19 genetically diverse cacao clones and yeast transformed to express cacao natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP5) and heavy metal ATPases (HMAs). The plants were enriched in light Cd isotopes relative to the hydroponic solution with Δ 114/110 Cd tot-sol = −0.22 ± 0.08‰. Leaves show a systematic enrichment of isotopically heavy Cd relative to total plants, in accord with closed-system isotope fractionation of Δ 114/110 Cd seq-mob = −0.13‰, by sequestering isotopically light Cd in roots/stems and mobilisation of remaining Cd to leaves. The findings demonstrate that (i) transfer of Cd between roots and leaves is primarily unidirectional; (ii) different clones utilise similar pathways for Cd sequestration, which differ from those of other studied plants; (iii) clones differ in their efficiency of Cd sequestration. Transgenic yeast that expresses TcNRAMP5 (T. cacao natural resistance-associated macrophage gene) had isotopically lighter Cd than did cacao. This suggests that NRAMP5 transporters constitute an important pathway for uptake of Cd by cacao. Cd isotope signatures of transgenic yeast expressing HMA-family proteins suggest that they may contribute to Cd sequestration. The data are the first to record isotope fractionation induced by transporter proteins in vivo.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cadmium isotope fractionation reveals genetic variation in Cd uptake and translocation by Theobroma cacao and role of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 5 and heavy metal ATPase-family transporters

et al. 2020

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“…Previous studies on cacao plantations in South America showed a strong relationship between Cd in beans and total soil Cd, and reported a considerable influence of soil pH on the increase of plant-available Cd [5,16,19,22]. Yet, there are few studies investigating the relationships between soil Cd and management and agroecological factors, and little attention has been paid to integrated geological and climatic attributes in the design and management of cacao plantations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil, Site, and Management Factors Affecting Cadmium Concentrations in Cacao-Growing Soils

Scaccabarozzi

Castillo

Aromatisi³

et al. 2020

Agronomy

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Soil contamination by potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) such as Cadmium (Cd), is a major environmental concern because of its potential implications to human health. Cacao-based products have been identified as food sources with relatively high Cd contents. Here, we assessed Cd concentrations of cacao-growing soils in four major agricultural regions with contrasting climates in Peru, one of the main exporters of cacao products worldwide. At each study site (n = 40) a broad range of potential factors affecting Cd concentration in soils, i.e., site, soil and management, were evaluated. Concentrations of Cd ranged between 1.1–3.2 mg kg−1. Mean values per region were below 2.7 mg kg−1, usually established as upper-limit for non-polluted soils. Cadmium concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in sites at higher elevations and in a temperate, drier climate. Cadmium correlated positively with pH (r = 0.57; p < 0.05) and was higher (p < 0.001) in alluvial sediments and Leptosols. Management factors (cacao variety, cultivation year, management practices) and agroecology did not affect Cd concentrations directly. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering a broad range of both natural and anthropogenic factors to evaluate Cd concentrations in cacao-growing soils and contribute to effective and sustainable cacao production by improving land management and planning.

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“…Such work has shown that there are large regional variations of Cd levels in cacao beans, whereby problematically high concentrations are particularly prominent in Latin America and some Asian countries. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] In these regions, the Cd concentrations of beans commonly exceed 0.6 to 0.8 mg kg À1 , 14 which is the approximate upper range for manufacturing cocoa products that are in accord with the new EU regulations. 8,15 For example, a recent study of more than 500 farms in Ecuador revealed that nearly 50% of the cacao beans had Cd concentrations that exceeded 0.6 mg kg À1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cadmium isotope fractionation in the soil – cacao systems of Ecuador: a pilot field study

et al. 2019

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Cadmium Accumulation in Peruvian Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) and Opportunities for Mitigation

Abstract: Estudio de la diversidad microbiana asociadas a suelos cacaoteros con presencia de cadmio (Cd) y evaluación de su potencial biorremediador del metal a la planta; esta

Cited by 48 publications

References 106 publications

Cadmium isotope fractionation reveals genetic variation in Cd uptake and translocation by Theobroma cacao and role of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 5 and heavy metal ATPase-family transporters

Cadmium isotope fractionation reveals genetic variation in Cd uptake and translocation by Theobroma cacao and role of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 5 and heavy metal ATPase-family transporters

Soil, Site, and Management Factors Affecting Cadmium Concentrations in Cacao-Growing Soils

Cadmium isotope fractionation in the soil – cacao systems of Ecuador: a pilot field study

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