Pb and Cd uptake in rice roots

Pb and Cd are heavy metal pollutants that inhibit plant growth. Using a cultivated rice variety (Dongjin, Oryza sativa L.), we studied how the transport and toxicity of Pb2+ and Cd2+ are affected by the presence of K+ , Ca2+ or Mg2+ . K+ had a little effect on uptake or toxicity of Pb2+ and Cd2+ . Ca2+ or Mg2+ blocked both Cd2+ transport into rice roots and Cd2+ toxicity on root growth, which suggested that their detoxification effect is directly related to their blocking of entry of the heavy metals. Similarly, Ca2+ blocked both Pb2+ transport into the root and Pb2+ toxicity on root growth. The protective effect of Ca2+ on Pb2+ toxicity may be related to its inhibition of the heavy metal accumulation in the root tip, a potential target site of Pb2+ toxicity. Mg2+ did not ameliorate the Pb2+ toxicity on root growth as much as Ca2+ did, although it decreased Pb2+ uptake into roots similarly as Ca2+ did. These results suggest that the protective effect of Ca2+ on Pb2+ toxicity may involve multiple mechanisms including competition at the entry level, and that Pb2+ and Cd2+ may compete with divalent cations for transport into roots of rice plants.