A state-of-the-art review on cadmium uptake, toxicity, and tolerance in rice: From physiological response to remediation process

• Published in: Environmental research 2023-03, Vol.220, p.115098, Article 115098
• Main Authors: Peera Sheikh Kulsum, Pedda Ghouse, Khanam, Rubina, Das, Shreya, Nayak, Amaresh Kumar, Tack, Filip M.G., Meers, Erik, Vithanage, Meththika, Shahid, Mohammad, Kumar, Anjani, Chakraborty, Sukalyan, Bhattacharya, Tanushree, Biswas, Jayanta Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorption; Agriculture; Biodegradation, Environmental; Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Cadmium - toxicity; food safety; Human exposure; Humans; metabolism; microbial bioremediation; Oryza - chemistry; oxidative stress; paddy soils; physiological response; phytoremediation; Remediation; Rice; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; toxicity; Transporters
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115098

Cadmium (Cd), a major contaminant of concern, has been extensively reviewed and debated for its anthropogenic global shifts. Cadmium levels in rice grains raise wide food safety concerns. The aim of this review is therefore to capture the dynamics of Cd in paddy soil, translocation pathways of Cd from soil to consumption rice, and assess its bio-accessibility in human consumption. In crop plants, Cd reduces absorption of nutrients and water, triggers oxidative stress, and inhibits plant metabolism. Understanding the mechanisms and behaviour of Cd in paddy soil and rice allows to explain, predict and intervene in Cd transferability from soil to grains and human exposure. Factors affecting Cd movement in soil, and further to rice grain, are elucidated. Recently, physiological and molecular understanding of Cd transport in rice plants have been advanced. Morphological-biochemical characteristics and Cd transporters of plants in such a movement were also highlighted. Ecologically viable remediation approaches, including low input cost agronomic methods, phytoremediation and microbial bioremediation methods, are emerging. •Grain loading influenced by complex interplay between soil and plant factors.•View on the complex journey of Cd from soil to human via rice.•Morpho-physiological traits and transporters regulate Cd transfer.•Ecofriendly and cost-effective remediation approaches to mitigate Cd bioavailability are emerging.