2021/01/12 by Fasih Ullah Haider, Cai Liqun, Jeffrey A. Coulter +5 · 8 citations
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Heavy metals in environment #Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance #Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals
paper · doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111887
openalex publication_date 2021/01/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Cadmium (Cd) is an unessential trace element in plants that is ubiquitous in the environment. Anthropogenic activities such as disposal of urban refuse, smelting, mining, metal manufacturing, and application of synthetic phosphate fertilizers enhance the concentration of Cd in the environment and are carcinogenic to human health. In this manuscript, we reviewed the sources of Cd contamination to the environment, soil factors affecting the Cd uptake, the dynamics of Cd in the soil rhizosphere, uptake mechanisms, translocation, and toxicity of Cd in plants. In crop plants, the toxicity of Cd reduces uptake and translocation of nutrients and water, increases oxidative damage, disrupts plant metabolism, and inhibits plant morphology and physiology. In addition, the defense mechanism in plants against Cd toxicity and potential remediation strategies, including the use of biochar, minerals nutrients, compost, organic manure, growth regulators, and hormones, and application of phytoremediation, bioremediation, and chemical methods are also highlighted in this review. This manuscript may help to determine the ecological importance of Cd stress in interdisciplinary studies and essential remediation strategies to overcome the contamination of Cd in agricultural soils.