Summary
This narrative review synthesises five decades of research on cadmium accumulation in plants, tracing uptake mechanisms from the rhizosphere through root and aerial tissues. The authors explain how cadmium exploits micronutrient transporters for iron, manganese and zinc to enter and move through plants, and review molecular studies identifying genes controlling Cd2+ movement. Knowledge gaps remain regarding cadmium distribution to fruits and seeds, limiting understanding of crop contamination pathways.
UK applicability
The review's mechanistic findings are applicable to UK agricultural contexts where soil cadmium contamination poses human health risks through food chain exposure. Understanding these transport pathways is relevant to UK food safety policy and strategies to reduce crop cadmium uptake, though the review does not address UK-specific soil conditions or regulatory thresholds.
Key measures
Cadmium transport kinetics; gene expression controlling Cd2+ influx and efflux; cadmium distribution across plant tissues and organs; cadmium concentration in soil and plant tissues
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises five decades of research on cadmium accumulation mechanisms in plants, from root uptake through distribution to aerial tissues and reproductive organs. It examines molecular and cellular mechanisms by which cadmium hijacks micronutrient transport pathways and identifies knowledge gaps, particularly regarding cadmium distribution to fruits and seeds.
Topic tags
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