Effects of Cadmium on Nutrient Uptake and Translocation by Indian Mustard

Abstract

Plants that hyperaccumulate metals are ideal subjects for studying the mechanisms of metal and mineral nutrient uptake in the plant kingdom. Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) has been shown to accumulate moderate levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu. In this experiment, 10 levels of Cd concentration treatments were imposed by adding 10-190 mg Cd kg(-1) to the soils as cadmium nitrate [Cd(NO3)2]. The effect of Cd on phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and the micronutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in B. juncea was studied. Plant growth was affected negatively by Cd, root biomass decreased significantly at 170 mg Cd kg(-1) dry weight soils treatment. Cadmium accumulation both in shoots and roots increased with increasing soil Cd treatments. The highest concentration of Cd was up to 300 mg kg(-1) d.w. in the roots and 160 mg kg(-1) d.w. in the shoots. The nutrients mainly affected by Cd were P, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn in the roots, and P, K, Ca, and Cu in the shoots. K and P concentrations in roots increased significantly when Cd was added at 170 mg kg(-1), and this was almost the same level at which root growth was inhibited. Zn concentrations in roots decreased significantly when added Cd concentration was increased from 50 to 110 mg kg(-1), then remained constant with Cd treatments from 110 to 190 mg kg(-1). However, Zn concentrations in the shoots seemed less affected by Cd. It is possible that Zn uptake was affected by the Cd but not the translocation of Zn within the plant. Ca and Mg accumulation in roots and shoots showed similar trends. This result indicates that Ca and Mg uptake is a non-specific process.

The Absorption and Metabolism of Heavy Metals and Mineral Matters in the Halophyte Plant Artemisia aucheri

“…According to our results Cd concentrations in roots were higher than those in shoots (Figure 3). These results are contrary to the findings by Salt et al (1997) and Jiang et al (2004).…”

“…These results are in accordance with the observations of Jiang et al (2004) and Zhao et al (2003). Also, Vogel-Mikus et al (2005) reported significant hyperaccumulation of Cd in shoots and roots with increasing Cd concentrations.…”

“…Figures 1 and 2 clearly demonstrate the adverse effects of different Cd-levels on plant biomass. The depression in plant growth as a result of excess Cd is similar to the result of Jiang et al (2004), who reported that plant growth including root dry matter was negatively affected by Cd at 170 mg Cd kg -1 soil dry weight. These results are also in agreement with the findings of Michalska and Asp (2001) and Jiang et al (2003).…”

In vitro Study of Interactive Effect of Cadmium and Salicylic Acid on Growth and Biochemical Parameters in Tetra and Hexaploid Wheat

“…Cadmium is a highly toxic metal which has no known biological function (Chen et al, 2007;2014). Moreover, beside its primary effects, it may also provoke secondary effects that in turn may activate in convergence (Prasad and Hagemeyer, 1999), such as photosynthesis and respiration decay or interference with mineral nutrition (Jiang et al, 2004;Dong et al, 2006) and numerous serious morphological, metabolic, and physiological anomalies.…”

Responses of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) and Maize (Zea Mays L.) Plants to Cadmium Toxicity in Relation to Magnesium Nutrition

“…The literature data are inconsistent regarding the Mg accumulation in certain plant organs. In Brassica juncea, Mg concentration of the roots was unaffected, while the concentration of the shoots increased slightly by Cd exposure (JIANG et al 2004). In a pot experiment with different rice genotypes exposed to Cd stress, LIU et al (2003) investigated the absorption and accumulation of Cd, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Mg in roots and shoots, at both heading and ripening periods.…”