Effects of root morphology and leaf transpiration on Cd uptake and translocation in rice under different growth temperature

With growing concerns on cadmium (Cd) contamination of rice grain from the public, the mechanism about the uptake and translocation of Cd in rice plant has been widely studied in recent years. However, the study about the effects of future warming on rice Cd accumulation was almost neglected. In the paper, hydroponic experiments of Cd exposure in growth chambers under different growth temperature (asymmetric and symmetric warming) were conducted to investigate how warming influenced Cd uptake and translocation in rice seedlings ( 6 liangyou 9368 ). The results showed that warming significantly increased Cd accumulation in shoot and root by 62.7 to 122 % and 65.5 to 73.9 %, respectively. Moreover, symmetric warming boosted Cd translocation from root to shoot, while antitranspirant treatment inhibited it significantly. The possible mechanisms may be that warming increased the fine root (diameter ≤ 0.5 mm) surface area and enlarged the active sites on root surface by influencing root morphology growth, thus promoted Cd uptake by root. Meanwhile, warming increased leaf transpiration and boosted the xylem stream from nutrient solution to above organs, thus enhanced Cd translocation. This study may provide new understanding and possible explanations about Cd uptake and translocation in rice plant under future warming.