Phytotoxic effects of cadmium

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1974 · Phytopathology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5319861

Barber, A; Brennan, E

Accumulation of the heavy metal, cadmium (Cd), in the environment poses a twofold threat to agriculture. It is phytotoxic in small quantities and it also renders plants unsafe for human or animal consumption. The symptoms of Cd toxicity typically include chlorosis, leaf crinkling, red veins, and reduced growth. Bush beam (Phaseolus vulgaris Tendergreen MR) was the most sensitive species investigated; it showed injury when exposed to 1 ppm Cd/sup + +/ administered as CdCl/sub 2/ for 3 weeks in sand culture. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa Parris Island) and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Rutgers) was not injured as severely as bean, even though the foliar accumulation of Cd was 1000 and 3000 times as great, respectively, as in bean. Since the presence of Cd in the nutrient solution greatly increased the uptake of other mineral nutrients, it is improbable that the mode of action of the metal is simply a competitive inhibition which produces a nutrient deficiency. The observed accumulation of Cd in chloroplasts may be significant relative to interference of the metal with plant metabolism.

• Research Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ
• OSTI ID: 5319861
• Journal Information: Phytopathology; (United States), Vol. 64:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
TOXICITY
ANIMALS
BEANS
CHLOROPLASTS
FOLIAR UPTAKE
LETTUCE
MAN
METABOLISM
NEW JERSEY
PLANTS
TOMATOES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
FOOD
FRUITS
MAMMALS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
PRIMATES
UPTAKE
USA
VEGETABLES
VERTEBRATES
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)