Toxicity of cadmium in plants

Cadmium are important environmental pollutants and their toxicity is a problem of increasing significance for ecological, evolutionary, nutritional, and environmental reasons. So, if high concentration of heavy metals is accumulated in the plants that adversely affect the absorption and transport of essential elements, disturb the metabolism and have an impact on growth and reproduction of the plant. Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal, recently which has attracted the more attention in plant nutrition due to its relative mobility in the soil plant system. Plant root is the main organ of water and nutrient entry to the plant body. It is also the main organ for uptake of pollutants including heavy metals like cadmium. This review summarizes the toxic effects of cadmium in plants (i.e. growth retardation, alterations of photosynthesis, stomatal movement, enzymatic activities, water relations, interferences with mineral uptake, protein metabolism, membrane functioning etc.) and also includes the mechanisms of cadmium uptake, translocation and deposition.