Effect of cadmium on the development of maize plants

Maize is considered as one of the most important cereals in the world, and in the majority of countries millions of tons are produced year by year. As the clement content of maize grain may enter into the human body indirectl y through the flesh of animals bred for human nutrition, or directly, as fo od, it is important to know how the toxic heavy metals derived from fertili zers, especially from phosphorus fertilizers, can affect plants. This probl em is may be a serious threat to crop production, since, in the case of hig h contamination, caused by e.g, the use of contaminated fertilizers or the accumulation of heavy metals, the yield decreases, quality deteriorates, or the plant yields no grains at all. Consequently, it is worth knowing the e ffects of one of the most toxic heavy metals, cadmium, on maize.