Comparisons in subcellular and biochemical behaviors of cadmium between low-Cd and high-Cd accumulation cultivars of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.)

Subcellular distributions and chemical forms of cadmium (Cd) in the leaves, stems and roots were investigated in low-Cd accumulation cultivars and high-Cd accumulation cultivars of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.). Root cell wall played a key role in limiting soil Cd from entering the protoplast, especially in the low-Cd cultivars. The high-Cd cultivars had significantly higher leaf and stem Cd concentrations than the low-Cd cultivars in cell wall fraction, chloroplast/trophoplast fraction, organelle fraction and soluble fraction. In low-Cd cultivars, which were more sensitive and thus had greater physiological needs of Cd detoxification than high-Cd cultivars, leaf vacuole sequestrated higher proportions of Cd. Cd in the form of pectate/protein complexes (extracted by 1 mol.L-1 NaCl) played a decisive role in Cd translocation from root to shoot, which might be one of the mechanisms that led to the differences in shoot Cd accumulation between the two types of cultivars. Furthermore, the formation of Cd-phosphate complexes (extracted by 2% HAc) was also involved in Cd detoxification within the roots of pakchoi under high Cd stress, suggesting that the mechanisms of Cd detoxification might be different between low- and high-Cd cultivars.