Phytotoxic effects of cadmium

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 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), Journal Name: Phytopathology; (United States) Vol. 64:5; ISSN PHYTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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