1. Cadmium-induced hormesis effect in medicinal herbs improves the efficiency of safe utilization for low cadmium-contaminated farmland soil
- Author
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Xie Mengdi, Chen Wenqing, Dai Haibo, Wang Xiaoqing, Yang Li, Kang Yuchen, Sun Hui, and Wang Lei
- Subjects
Low Cd-contaminated soil ,Safe soil utilization ,Low Cd accumulation plant ,Traditional Chinese medicine ,Antioxidative system ,Environmental pollution ,TD172-193.5 ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
Compared to other soil remediation technologies, Cd-contaminated farmland soil with low cadmium accumulation (LCA) plant-based safe utilization is more catered to developing countries with food in high demand. Hormesis, which describes the fortification of plant growth performance by a low level of environmental stress, can be innovatively used to achieve increases in crop yield and plant functional components, thus amplifying the safe utilization efficiency of low Cd-contaminated soil by LCA plants. In the present study, the growth and physiological responses of Polygonatum sibiricum, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, were investigated under laboratory conditions of gradient Cd dosage concentrations and times. As a result, the growth performance of P. sibiricum reached the peak of an inverse U-shaped curve of hormesis under e0 mg kg−1 and 9 months of Cd stress, with elevations in tuber biomass (medicinal part), plant height and polysaccharide content (medicinal components) of 143%, 25% and 90%, respectively. Meanwhile, trace Cd accumulation (0.41 mg kg−1) in the tuber guaranteed medicinal edible safety. In addition, Cd-induced hormesis in P. sibiricum was verified to be overcompensated by antioxidation systems. In conclusion, such ‘win-win’ results, including low Cd accumulation and enhancement of plant pharmaceutical value, provided medicinal herbs with a possibility for safe soil utilization.
- Published
- 2021
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