Effect of Cadmium Treatment on Cadmium and Zinc Uptake by Selected Vegetable Species

Abstract

Abstract The effect of Cd treatment on several vegetable species was investigated using batch‐culture nutrient solution techniques. Lycopersicum esculentum Mill (tomato) was shown to be particularly sensitive to Cd damage. For all species, Cd in tops tended to increase with increased Cd levels in solution. At the highest Cd treatment investigated (1 µ g Cd/m), Cd concentration in tops ranged from 2.2 µ g/g for Daucus carota L. (carrot) to 158 µ g/g for Lycopersicum esculentum Mill (tomato). For several species, Cd treatment resulted in increased concentration and total uptake of Zn in plant tops. This effect could be interpreted to imply root damage in the presence of Cd.