Morphological, Physiological and Cellular Responses of Plants to Cadmium Toxicity

Cadmium (Cd) is an unnecessary trace element in plants that is also present in almost all parts of the ecosystem. The environment is exposed to cadmium through both anthropogenic and geogenic sources. Industrial processes, such as iron and steel plants, mining, electroplating, and battery manufacturing, use Cd and frequently discharge it into the environment. The phytotoxicity of cadmium is caused by changes in the concentration of nutrients in roots and leaves, as well as by decrease in the rate of transpiration, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll concentration which slows down the plant growth. Plants have evolved defensive cellular responses to Cd toxicity, including the production of phytochelatins and metallothioneins, metal segregation in vacuoles, and elevated antioxidant enzyme activity to counteract Cd induced toxicity. Therefore, current chapter addresses the uptake, translocation, response and its toxicity effects in plants.