Isolation and identification of rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars for potential higher and lower Cd accumulation

Cadmium (Cd) as a non-essential toxic metal has become one of the seriously environmental problems. Overload of Cd into plant shoots, particularly the addible parts (i.e., grains), jeopardizes crop production and food safety. Isolating and identifying genotypic variations in Cd accumulation of rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars is an efficient approach for phytoremediation and developing lower Cd-accumulating plants. In this study, a trial was conducted under natural condition in Nanjing, China, from 2014 to 2017, and identified 64 rapeseed cultivars collected from the areas of Gui Zhou province. Rapeseed grew under moderate Cd exposure (5 mg kg(-1)) for 5months, and shoots were harvested for Cd quantification. A great variation of total Cd concentrations in shoots, ranking from 0.16 to 17.03 mg Cd kg(-1), was found. Following the initial examination of all cultivars, two sets of plants with high (#138 and #177) and low (#208 and #244) Cd concentrations were further investigated. Throughout the growth period, cultivars #138 and #177 accumulated more Cd during vegetative (30, 60, and 120 d) and late developmental (180 d) stages than cultivars #208 and #244. The higher Cd concentration in shoots of #138 and #177 was associated with the higher Cd concentration in xylem sap, suggesting the greater capability of Cd translocation from roots to shoots. Compared to #208 and #244, Cd exposure moderately reduced zinc and iron concentrations in some tissues of #138 and #177, whereas the manganese and magnesium concentrations showed no change. Although #138 and #177 cultivars accumulated more Cd in their shoots, no Cd toxicity was detected. Moreover, both #138 and #177 cultivars had a similar biomass to #208 or #244. These results suggest that #138 and #177 rapeseeds are tolerant to Cd stress.