Characterization of rapid intervascular transport of cadmium in rice stem by radioisotope imaging

Abstract

Participation of the intervascular transport system within the rice stem during cadmium (Cd) partitioning was investigated by characterizing 109Cd behaviour in the shoot. In addition, 45Ca, 32P, and 35S partitioning patterns were analysed for comparison with that of 109Cd. Each tracer was applied to the seedling roots for 15min, and the shoots were harvested either at 15min (i.e. immediately after tracer application) or at 48h. Distribution patterns of each element at 15min were studied to identify the primary transport pathway before remobilization was initiated. 32P was preferentially transported to completely expanded leaf blades having the highest transpiration rate. The newest leaf received minimal amounts of 32P. In contrast, the amount of 35S transported to the newest leaf was similar to that transported to the other mature leaf blades. Preferential movement towards the newest leaf was evident for 109Cd and 45Ca. These results directly indicate that elemental transport is differentially regulated in the vegetative stem as early as 15min before the elements are transported to leaves. Cd behaviour in the stem was investigated in detail by obtaining serial section images from the bottom part of shoots after 109Cd was applied to a single crown root. At 30min, the maximum amount of 109Cd was distributed in the peripheral cylinder of the longitudinal vascular bundles (PV) and, interestingly, some amount of 109Cd was transported downwards along the PV. This transport manner of 109Cd provides evidence that Cd can be loaded on the phloem at the stem immediately after Cd is transported from the root. © 2012 © 2012 The Authors.