title: Variations in the accumulation and translocation of cadmium among pak choi cultivars as related to root morphology.
abstract: A pot experiment was performed to investigate the variations in cadmium (Cd) accumulation among pak choi cultivars and its relationships to root morphology. The biomass, Cd accumulation and root morphology of 20 pak choi cultivars were determined in low and high Cd treatments. Significant variations in Cd accumulation and root morphological parameters were observed between pak choi cultivars. Cd concentrations in shoots differed between cultivars by a factor of 2.3 (13.3-30.8 μg g(-1)) and 2.6 (35.5-94.0 μg g(-1)) for low and high Cd treatments, respectively. The total Cd in plants positively correlated to the root length, root surface area, root volume, and root length/shoot biomass ratio in both Cd treatments. The shoot Cd concentration was also positively correlated with the root length, root surface area, and root length/shoot biomass ratio. Moreover, the proportion of fine roots (diameter less than 0.2 mm) was positively correlated with the total Cd in plants in low Cd treatment, and positively correlated with percentage of Cd in shoots in high Cd treatment. These results suggested that root morphology might be partially responsible for variation of Cd accumulation among pak choi cultivars. High Cd cultivars exhibit longer root length, greater root surface area, higher root volume, and a higher proportion of fine roots than low Cd cultivars.
authors: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China.
authors: Shenglan
authors: S
authors: Xia
authors: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China.
authors: Rubo
authors: R
authors: Deng
authors: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China.
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China.
authors: Caifeng
authors: C
authors: Liu
authors: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China. swsgr@126.com.
authors: Gangrong
authors: G
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium
keywords: Cd accumulation; Cultivar variation; Pak choi; Root morphology; Root-to-shoot translocation