Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Selection for low-cadmium cultivars and cadmium subcellular distribution comparison between two selected cultivars of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in vegetables poses a serious threat to human health; therefore, it is urgent to screen and cultivate vegetable cultivars with low Cd accumulation in the edible parts. Eggplant has a high tendency for Cd accumulation, but research on its low Cd accumulation cultivars is still rare. In this study, to screen low-Cd cultivars, 30 eggplant cultivars were screened using soils containing 0.22 mg/kg, 2.9 mg/kg (low-Cd), and 4.7 mg/kg of Cd (high-Cd). MYCQ and ZGQ were confirmed as low-Cd cultivars, BXGZ and WCCQ were confirmed as high-Cd cultivars, and a 2.52–3.88-fold difference in Cd concentration was observed in their fruits. The subcellular distribution revealed that the root cell wall and vacuole Cd concentrations of a typical low-Cd cultivar (MYCQ) were significantly higher than those of a typical high-Cd cultivar (BXGZ); however, the Cd concentrations in the cell wall and vacuole in fruits, leaves, and stems were significantly lower in MYCQ than in BXGZ. These results indicated that the low-Cd cultivars of eggplant could lessen Cd toxicity through the elevated Cd retention and sequestration levels of root cell walls and vacuoles, thus reducing Cd transport from roots to aboveground tissues, leading to low Cd accumulation. The findings of this study can provide a physiological and biochemical foundation for the screening and breeding of low-Cd cultivars of fruit vegetables and demonstrates that the application of low-Cd cultivars is necessary for food safety in humans.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

References

  • Borges KLR, Salvato F, Loziuk PL, Muddiman DC, Azevedo RA (2019) Quantitative proteomic analysis of tomato genotypes with differential cadmium tolerance. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 26:26039–26051

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho MEA, Castro PRC, Azevedo RA (2020) Hormesis in plants under Cd exposure: from toxic to beneficial element? J Hazard Mater 384:121434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng F, Yu M, Martinoia E, Song WY (2019) Ideal cereals with lower arsenic and cadmium by accurately enhancing vacuolar sequestration capacity. Front Genet 10:322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2019) 'General standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed', FAO. http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCXS%2B193-1995%252FCXS_193e.pdf

  • FAOSTAT (2020) FAO Statistical Database. Accessed December 22. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC

  • Feng R, Lei L, Su J, Zhang R, Zhu Y, Chen W, Wang L, Wang R, Dai J, Lin Z, Li Y, Liu B, Fan Z, Liu H, Rensing C (2020) Toxicity of different forms of antimony to rice plant: effects on root exudates, cell wall components, endogenous hormones and antioxidant system. Sci Total Environ 711:134589

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grant CA, Clarke JM, Duguid S, Chaney RL (2008) Selection and breeding of plant cultivars to minimize cadmium accumulation. Sci Total Environ 390:301–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greger M, Löfstedt M (2004) Comparison of uptake and distribution of cadmium in different cultivars of bread and durum wheat. Crop Sci 44:501–507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo JJ, Tan X, Fu HL, Chen JX, Lin XX, Ma Y, Yang ZY (2018) Selection for Cd pollution-safe cultivars of Chinese kale (Brassica alboglabra L. H. Bailey) and biochemical mechanisms of the cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation involving in Cd subcellular distribution. J Agric Food Chem 66:1923–1934

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He L, Hu W, Wang X, Liu Y, Jiang Y, Meng Y, Xiao Q, Guo X, Zhou Y, Bi Y, Lu Y (2020) Analysis of heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils and related effect on population health-a case study for East River Basin in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17

  • He CT, Zhou YH, Huang YY, Fu HL, Wang XS, Gong FY, Tan X, Yang ZY (2018) Different proteomic processes related to the cultivar-dependent cadmium accumulation of Amaranthus gangeticus. J Agric Food Chem 66:1085–1095

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang YY, Mu YX, He CT, Fu HL, Wang XS, Gong FY, Yang ZY (2018) Cadmium and lead accumulations and agronomic quality of a newly bred pollution-safe cultivar (PSC) of water spinach. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 25:11152–11162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang YY, Shen C, Chen JX, He CT, Zhou Q, Tan X, Yuan JG, Yang ZY (2016) Comparative transcriptome analysis of two Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. Cultivars targeted to explore possible mechanism of genotype-dependent accumulation of cadmium. J Agric Food Chem 64:5241–5250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jia L, He X, Chen W, Liu Z, Huang Y, Yu S (2013) Hormesis phenomena under Cd stress in a hyperaccumulator--Lonicera japonica Thunb. Ecotoxicology 22:476–485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiao HJ, Niu MF, Wei SH, Li YM, Wang SS, Zhu JG (2013) Differences of Accumulating and Enduring Cadmium among Eggplant Seedlings. Asian Journal of Ecotoxicology (in Chinese). 8(3):413-418

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang W, Bao J, Zheng J, Hu H, Du J (2015) Distribution and chemical forms of copper in the root cells of castor seedlings and their tolerance to copper phytotoxicity in hydroponic culture. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 22:7726–7734

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kubo K, Watanabe Y, Matsunaka H, Seki M, Fujita M, Kawada N, Hatta K, Nakajima T (2011) Differences in cadmium accumulation and root morphology in seedlings of Japanese wheat varieties with distinctive grain cadmium concentration. Plant Prod Sci 14:148–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li XF, Chen ZB, Chen ZQ, Zhang YH, Wang QY, Huang ML (2013) 'Concentrations and health risk asesment of heavy metals in soil and vegetables from REEs mining area, Fujian Province. J Soil Water Conserv (Chinese) 27:146–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Pu P, Li X, Gong Y, An D, Zhang L, Lv J (2020) Sulfur application reduces cadmium uptake in edible parts of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) by cadmium chelation and vacuolar sequestration. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 194:110402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li ZR, Wang JX, An LZ, Tan JB, Zhan FD, Wu J, Zu YQ (2019) Effect of root exudates of intercropping Vicia faba and Arabis alpina on accumulation and sub-cellular distribution of lead and cadmium. Int J Phytoremed 21:4–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Xi X, Xiao G, Cheng H, Yang Z, Zhou G, Ye J, Li Z (2014) National multi-purpose regional geochemical survey in China. J Geochem Explor 139:21–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mamat A, Zhang Z, Mamat Z, Zhang F, Yinguang C (2020) Pollution assessment and health risk evaluation of eight (metalloid) heavy metals in farmland soil of 146 cities in China. Environ Geochem Health 42:3949–3963

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muszyńska E, Hanus-Fajerska E, Ciarkowska K (2018) Studies on lead and cadmium toxicity in Dianthus carthusianorum calamine ecotype cultivated in vitro. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 20:474–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu Q, Wang Y, Yang Z, Yuan J (2011) Effects of phosphorus supplied in soil on subcellular distribution and chemical forms of cadmium in two Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica parachinensis L.) cultivars differing in cadmium accumulation. Food Chem Toxicol 49:2260–2267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saini DK, Kaushik P (2019) Visiting eggplant from a biotechnological perspective: a review. Sci Hortic 253:327–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen C, Huang YY, He CT, Zhou Q, Chen JX, Tan X, Mubeen S, Yuan JG, Yang ZY (2017) Comparative analysis of cadmium responsive microRNAs in roots of two Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. cultivars with different cadmium accumulation capacities. Plant Physiol Biochem 111:329–339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang A, Wang M, Liao Q, He X (2016) Characterization of Cd translocation and accumulation in 19 maize cultivars grown on Cd-contaminated soil: implication of maize cultivar selection for minimal risk to human health and for phytoremediation. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 23:5410–5419

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Yang B, Wan H, Fang X, Yang C (2018) The differences of cell wall in roots between two contrasting soybean cultivars exposed to cadmium at young seedlings. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 25(29):29705-29714

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Su Y, Lu S (2019) Cd accumulation and transfer in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in typical soils of China: pot experiments. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 26:36558–36567

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Yuan J, Yang Z, Huang B, Zhou Y, Xin J, Gong Y, Yu H (2009) Variation in cadmium accumulation among 30 cultivars and cadmium subcellular distribution in 2 selected cultivars of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.). J Agric Food Chem 57:8942–8949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xin JL, Huang BF (2014) Subcellular distribution and chemical forms of cadmium in two hot pepper cultivars differing in cadmium accumulation. J Agric Food Chem 62:508–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xin J, Huang B, Liu A, Zhou W, Liao K (2013) Identification of hot pepper cultivars containing low Cd levels after growing on contaminated soil: uptake and redistribution to the edible plant parts. Plant Soil 373:415–425

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xin J, Huang B, Yang Z, Yuan J, Zhang Y (2013) Comparison of cadmium subcellular distribution in different organs of two water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.) cultivars. Plant Soil 372:431–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue M, Zhou Y, Yang Z, Lin B, Yuan J, Shanshan W (2014) Comparisons in subcellular and biochemical behaviors of cadmium between low-Cd and high-Cd accumulation cultivars of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.). Front Environ Sci Eng 8:226–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu R, Ma Y, Li Y, Li X, Liu C, Du X, Shi G (2018) Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed key factors for differential cadmium transport and retention in roots of two contrasting peanut cultivars. BMC Genomics 19:938

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan H, Sun L, Tai P, Liu W, Li X, Hao L (2019) Effects of grafting on root-to-shoot cadmium translocation in plants of eggplant (Solanum melongena) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Sci Total Environ 652:989–995

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang K, Yuan J, Kong W, Yang Z (2013) Genotype variations in cadmium and lead accumulations of leafy lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and screening for pollution-safe cultivars for food safety. Environ Sci Process Impacts 15:1245–1255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Zhang C, Du B, Lu B, Zhou D, Zhou J, Zhou J (2020) Effects of node restriction on cadmium accumulation in eight Chinese wheat (Triticum turgidum) cultivars. Sci Total Environ 725:138358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZH, Zhou T, Tang TJ, Song HX, Guan CY, Huang JY, Hua YP (2019) A multiomics approach reveals the pivotal role of subcellular reallocation in determining rapeseed resistance to cadmium toxicity. J Exp Bot 70:5437–5455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Q, Guo JJ, He CT, Shen C, Huang YY, Chen JX, Guo JH, Yuan JG, Yang ZY (2016) Comparative transcriptome analysis between low- and high-cadmium-accumulating genotypes of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) in response to cadmium stress. Environ Sci Technol 50:6485–6494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J, Wan H, He J, Lyu D, Li H (2017) Integration of cadmium accumulation, subcellular distribution, and physiological responses to understand cadmium tolerance in apple rootstocks. Front Plant Sci 8:966

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The reviews and editors are appreciated for comments and suggestions to improve the paper.

Funding

This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China (grant no. 2020JJ5119 and no. 2019JJ50113).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Environmental Pollution Control Technology, School of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Hunan Institute of Technology, Heng Hua Road 18, Hengyang, 421002, China

    Chuang Shen, Hui-Ling Fu, Qiong Liao, Bai-Fei Huang, Ying-Ying Huang & Jun-Liang Xin

Authors
  1. Chuang Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hui-Ling Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qiong Liao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bai-Fei Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ying-Ying Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jun-Liang Xin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

A total of six authors participated in this work, including Chuang Shen, Hui-ling Fu, Qiong Liao, Bai-fei Huang, Ying-ying Huang, and Jun-liang Xin.

Conception and design of the study were accomplished by Jun-liang Xin, Chuang Shen, and Ying-ying Huang; data collection and analysis was performed by Chuang Shen, Hui-ling Fu, and Qiong Liao; first draft was written by Chuang Shen and Bai-fei Huang. Data interpretation and manuscript polishing was carried out by Jun-liang Xin. All the authors approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ying-Ying Huang or Jun-Liang Xin.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent to publish

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Gangrong Shi

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

ESM 1

(DOCX 14 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shen, C., Fu, HL., Liao, Q. et al. Selection for low-cadmium cultivars and cadmium subcellular distribution comparison between two selected cultivars of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 57739–57750 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14652-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14652-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation