Effect of Cadmium on DNA Changes in Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in plants fertilized with inorganic fertilizers is a major risk to human health. Ipomoea aquatica Forssk., which is one of the most popular vegetables used in Thai cuisine, is also vulnerable to Cd contamination. This study aimed to investigate Cd accumulation in Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. and the associated changes in its DNA. The plant was grown in soil supplemented with Cd at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg. After 21 days, accumulation in the roots, stems, and leaves was analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and the bioconcentration (BCF) and translocation factors (TF) were analyzed. DNA changes were assessed by a combination of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and genomic template stability (GTS) tests. Cd concentrations in the roots, stems, and leaves ranged from 0 to 12,333 mg/kg, 0 to 5,909.27 mg/kg, and 0 to 1,653.26 mg/kg, respectively. The BCF and TF values ranged from 0 to 21.15 and 0 to 1.21, respectively. From the RAPD profiles, the GTS values ranged from 52.3 to 91.1%. Taken together, these results indicate that I. aquatica is a Cd-hyperaccumulator; therefore, consuming I. aquatica plants grown in Cd-polluted areas is a health risk.