Effects of exogenous calcium and spermidine on cadmium stress moderation and metal accumulation in Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a detrimental metal in the environment and it is easily taken up by plants, thus entering the food chain and posing a severe threat to human health. Phytoremediation being low cost, highly stable, and environmentally friendly has been considered as a promising green technology for Cd remediation. The addition of exogenous substances to the culture media has been recognized as an efficient strategy to improve plant phytoremediation capability. Pot trials were conducted to investigate the combined effects of exogenous calcium (Ca) and spermidine (Spd) on Cd-induced toxicity in Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich. (ramie). Results showed that the application of 5-mM exogenous Ca significantly alleviated Cd toxicity in ramie by reducing Cd accumulation, depressing H2O2 and malondialdehyde contents, increasing plants dry weights and chlorophyll concentrations, as well as altering the activities of total superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase. Furthermore, as a non-Cd hyperaccumulator plant, ramie hyperaccumulated Cd and suffered more severe toxic effects of Cd by the treatment of 1 mM Ca/Cd. The aggravated Cd toxicity could be compensated by the addition of exogenous Spd via the promotion of plant growth and the reduction of the oxidative stress. Overall, the combination effects of 1 mM Ca and Spd appeared to be more superior compared to other treatments in the plants under Cd stress with a higher Cd accumulation ability and the evaluated Cd stress tolerance.