Root Morphology and Anatomy Affect Cadmium Translocation and Accumulation in Rice

Paddy fields contaminated with cadmium(Cd)present decreased grain yield and produce Cckcontaminated grains.Screening for low-Cd-accumulating cultivars is a useful method to reduce the amount of Cd in the grains.The present study aimed to examine the roles of the root morphology and an atomy in Cd tran slocati on and accumulati on in rice plants.Twenty・two rice cultivars were used in the first experiment,after which two cultivars[Zixiangnuo(ZXN)and Jinyou T36(JYT36)]were selected and used in subsequent experiments under hydroponic conditions.The results showed that there were significant differences in Cd concentrations in the shoots(ranging from 4 to 100 mg/kg)and the Cd translocation rates(shoot/root)(from 7%to 102%)among the 22 cultivars,and the shoot Cd concentration was significantly correlated with the Cd translocation rate of the 22 cultivars under 0.1 mg/L Cd treatment.Compared with cultivar ZXN,JYT36 had greater root Cd uptake and accumulation but lower shoot Cd accumulation and Cd translocation rate.The number of root tips per surface area of cultivar ZXN was greater than that of JYT36,while the average root diameter was lower than that of JYT36.Compared with ZXN,JYT36 had stronger apoplastic barriers,and the Casparian bands and suberin lamellae in the root endodermis and exodermis were closer to the root apex in both the control and Cd treatments,especially for suberin lamellae in the root exodermis with Cd treatments,with a differenee of 25 mm.The results also showed that,compared with ZXN,JYT36 had greater percentages of Cd bound in cell walls and intracellular Cd but lower Cd concentrations in the apoplastic fluid under the Cd treatment.The results suggested that Cd translocation,rather than root Cd uptake,is a key process that determi nes Cd accumulati on in the rice shoots.The root morphological and an atomical characteristics evidently affect Cd accumulation in the shoots by inhibiting Cd translocation,especially via the apoplastic pathway.It was possible to pre-screen low・Cd・accumulating rice cultivars on the basis of their root morphology,an atomical characteristics and Cd tran slocati on rate at the seedling stage.

An effective planting model to decrease cadmium accumulation in rice grains and plants:Intercropping rice with wetland plants

Cadmium(Cd)pollution affects plant growth and poses a serious threat to food safety and human health.Cadmium-contaminated rice is assumed to be the main source of Cd exposure to humans,with grave health risks.Phytoremediation is an efficient,cost-effective,and eco-friendly approach to minimize Cd accumulation in rice.However,research on the effect of rice intercropping with wetland plants that exhibit great capacity for phytoremediation in decreasing Cd concentrations in paddies is limited.A pot experiment in greenhouse was conducted to evaluate the effect of rice intercropping with two wetland plants(Pontederia cordata and Canna indica)under different soil Cd levels(0,1,10,and 25 mg kg^(-1))on rice growth and Cd accumulation and translocation.The results showed that rice intercropping with the two wetland plants significantly improved plant height,tiller,and biomass of rice,but reduced Cd bioconcentration factors(BCFs)and Cd concentrations in rice and wetland plants.Compared with rice monocropping,the BCF in rice grain under 25 mg kg^(-1)soil Cd level significantly decreased by 54.39%and 59.65%in the systems of rice intercropping with C.indica and P.cordata,respectively.In addition,intercropping inhibited the increase in BCFs in rice and wetland plants under increasing soil Cd levels.In conclusion,the systems of rice intercropping with P.cordata and C.indica can be considered two new and effective approaches for ameliorating Cd pollution in paddies,as well as minimizing Cd accumulation in rice and improving food safety.Of the two intercropping systems,rice intercropping with P.cordata performed better than intercropping with C.indica.