CADMIUM ACCUMULATION IN CROPS

Cadmium is a heavy metal present in soils from natural and anthropogen ic sources. Plant uptake of Cd at levels present in the soil solution is dependent on a system that is largely metabolically mediated and co mpetitive with the uptake system for Zn and possibly other metals. Muc h of the Cd taken up by plants is retained in the root, but a portion is translocated to the aerial portions of the plant and into the seed. The amount of Cd accumulated and translocated in plants varies with s pecies and with cultivars within species. Soil, environmental and mana gement factors impact on the amount of Cd accumulated in plants. Poten tial methods of reducing the accumulation of Cd in crops include reduc tion of Cd input to the soil system, site selection, management practi ces which decrease the concentration of Cd in the soil solution and it s uptake and translocation by plants, and development and production o f plant cultivars with the genetic tendency for low Cd uptake.