Accumulation and translocation of food chain in soil-mulberry (Morus alba L.)-silkworm (Bombyx mori) under single and combined stress of lead and cadmium

In recent years, heavy metal pollution has caused immeasurable harm to the environment. As an emerging technology, phytoremediation technology has gained a place in the treatment of heavy metal pollution with its unique advantages. This study analyzes the toxic effects of mulberry (Morus alba) seeds, seedling growth and silkworm under heavy metal stress of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), and explore the accumulation and migration of Pb and Cd in the soil-mulberry tree-silkworm system. The main results were as follows: (1) Seed germination and potted seedling experiments were conducted under heavy metal Pb and Cd stresses, and it was found that Pb and Cd had inhibitory effects on mulberry seed germination, growth and photosynthesis of mulberry seedlings, and as the concentration of heavy metals increased, the stronger the inhibitory effect. Moreover, Pb and Cd have a synergistic effect under compound stress. (2) The accumulation and transfer rules of Pb and Cd ions in mulberry were different. The content of Pb in mulberry was root > leaf > stem and the content of Cd was root > stem > leaf. The combined stress promoted the transfer of Pb and Cd from the underground part to the aerial portion of mulberry. (3) The silkworm feeds on mulberry leaves contaminated with heavy metals in this experiment and found that: with the increase of silkworm feeding, the heavy metal content in the silkworm body increased significantly, but the content remained in the silkworm body was less, most of it was excreted with silkworm excrement. Combined stress has no significant effect on the detoxification mechanism of silkworm. It is indispensable to think of the synergistic effect of heavy metals on plants germination when seeds are used for phytoremediation.

Automated summary

The study found that heavy metals lead and cadmium have inhibitory effects on mulberry seed germination, seedling growth, and photosynthesis, with stronger effects at higher concentrations. The accumulation and transfer patterns of lead and cadmium in mulberry were different, with combined stress promoting their transfer within the plant. When silkworms fed on heavy metal-contaminated mulberry leaves, the heavy metal content in their bodies increased significantly, but was mostly excreted with their feces.