Morph‐physiological responses of two switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars to cadmium stress

Abstract

Two cultivars of switchgrass, ‘Alamo’ (lowland type) and ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ (upland type), were used to examine the morph‐physiological responses of plants to different cadmium (Cd) levels under hydroponic condition treated with 0, 10, 20 and 40 μmol L−1 CdCl2 for 2 weeks. The main results showed that both seedlings of ‘Alamo’ and ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ can survive even in 40 μmol L−1 CdCl2 treatment. However, the growth of the two cultivars was significantly (at least P < 0.05) inhibited by Cd stress. The plant biomass, water content, photosynthetic pigments content, total root length (RL), root surface area (RA), root volume (RV) and number of root tips of two tested cultivars were significantly decreased after treatment with Cd. ‘Alamo’ showed higher capability of Cd translocation from root to shoot than ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’, but ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ had higher capability of Cd uptake and accumulation than ‘Alamo’. ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ accumulated higher Cd in root than ‘Alamo’, the root average diameter, RL, RA and RV at the root segment in 0.3–0.9 mm diameter in ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ were dramatically higher than those of ‘Alamo’, which indicates that a well‐developed root system may contribute to higher Cd accumulation in ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’. Above all, both ‘Alamo’ and ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ could be cultivated in Cd polluted area. At the same time, they have bioremediation function, especially, this function of seedling in ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ should be greater than ‘Alamo’, since the amount of Cd absorption and accumulation in ‘Cave‐in‐Rock’ was significant higher than ‘Alamo’.

Potential phytoremediation of soil cadmium and zinc by diverse ornamental and energy grasses

“…2 and 4). For 'Alamo' a higher Cd translocation factor and lower Cd concentration in shoot and root than 'Cave-in-Rock' was consistent with a previous study (Liu et al 2016). Higher biomass and higher Cd amounts in shoots of Alamo than Blackwell was also obtained by Chen et al (2011), who suggested that Alamo had greater potential than Blackwell for Cd phytoextraction.…”

Exogenous GR24 Alleviates Cadmium Toxicity by Reducing Cadmium Uptake in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Seedlings

“…The seeds of ‘ Alamo ’ (lowland type) were used in this study. Alamo plants were cultured as described by Liu [ 14 ]. Briefly, the plants were grown in half-modified Hoagland solution (containing 5 mmol L −1 Ca[NO 3 ] 2 , 5 mmol L −1 KNO 3 , 1 mmol L −1 KH 2 PO 4 , 2 mmol L −1 MgSO 4 , 25 μmol L −1 Fe-EDTA-Na 2 , 50 μmol L −1 H 3 BO 3 , 0.3 μmol L −1 CuSO 4 ·5H 2 O, 4.5 μmol L −1 MnSO 4 ·H 2 O, 3.8 μmol L −1 ZnSO 4 ·7H 2 O and 0.1 μmol L −1 [NH 4 ] 6 Mo 7 O 24 ·4H 2 O).…”

“…Switchgrass, a warm-season C 4 perennial grass, can be grown on marginal lands that are usually unsuitable for food crops [ 12 , 13 ]. This plant was found to accumulate Cd efficiently due to its high biomass production [ 14 ]. In addition, switchgrass is also regarded as an important energy crop for biofuel production.…”

Influence of PGPB Inoculation on HSP70 and HMA3 Gene Expression in Switchgrass under Cadmium Stress

“…The Bc09-inoculated plants had significantly ( p < 0.05) higher TF (13%), whereas the mixed-inoculated plants had significantly ( p < 0.05) (54%) lower TFs compared to the noninoculated Cd-control plants (Figure 2D). It is known that if the Cd concentration of at least 100 mg Kg −1 is accumulated [37] and the TF is greater than 1, then a plant is considered as hyper-accumulator [38]. In our study, the TF was less than 1 in both PGPB-inoculated and noninoculated Cd-control plants.…”