title: Adaptive response of poplar (Populus nigra L.) after prolonged Cd exposure period.
abstract: An outdoor pot experiment was designed to study the changes of growth parameters, accumulation, and distribution of Cd in poplar (Populus nigra L.) during a prolonged exposure period (growing period of 17 months including three harvest points), allowing the consideration of time effects and prolonged adaptation to Cd stress. Simultaneously, changes to the antioxidant system in roots and leaves were monitored. It was demonstrated that poplar could adapt to the Cd-contaminated soils after prolonged exposure. Total Cd accumulation in the aerial parts of poplar, due to high biomass production and acceptable Cd accumulation parameters, implies that the tested poplar species could be a good candidate for Cd phytoextraction application as well as could be used as phytostabilizer of Cd in heavily polluted soil. Furthermore, the activity of the antioxidant machinery displays both a tissue- and exposure-specific response pattern to different Cd treatments, indicating that strict regulation of the antioxidant defense system is required for the adaptive response of poplar. In addition, this report highlights the importance of prolonged exposure studies of physiological responses of plants, especially for long-life-cycle woody species under heavy metal stress, since some misleading conclusions could be reached after shorter time periods.
authors.affiliation: Croatian Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko, Cvjetno naselje 41, 10450, Jastrebarsko, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jakovljević
authors.forename: Marina Cvjetko
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bubalo
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orlović
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sedak
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bilandžić
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brozinčević
authors.forename: Ivana Radojčić
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Redovniković
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D032107:Populus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium