Chapter 10 - Cadmium-Induced Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Plants

Abstract

The numerous deleterious health effects upon exposure to toxic heavy metals in the environment are a matter of serious concern and a global issue. Cadmium is classified as a no-redox metal, but in biological systems, it is characterized by developing redox cell imbalance. It is well documented that in many plants, acute and chronic Cd exposure increases reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) in the cell. ROS and RNS could be acting as deleterious molecules inducing an oxidative/nitrosative injury that could result in growth inhibition, accelerated senescence, or cell death; or as essential components in the signaling cascade through plants’ response to cope with metal stress. An understanding of the mechanisms by which plants perceive, transduce, and counterbalance Cd-induced oxidative or nitrosative stress signals to initiate acclimation or adaptive responses can be helpful in developing plants with increased tolerance to metal stress.