Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a nonbiodegradable, toxic trace element that occurs widely in the environment. The transfer of Cd along the food chains poses serious harm to the ecosystem. The increased anthropogenic activities such as mining, smelting, use of fertilizers, pesticides have elevated Cd concentrations in the environment. Cd stress in plants leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that damages cellular machinery and different biomolecules in plants. These negative effects of Cd lead to inhibition of physiological mechanisms, growth, and overall development in plants. ROS generation triggers plant defense mechanism that activates different enzymatic (catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase) and nonenzymatic (glutathione, phytochelatins, phenols) antioxidants in plants. This chapter aims to provide critical information on recent studies related to Cd stress in plants. Additionally, the important strategies, tolerance mechanisms adopted by plants to combat Cd-induced toxicity are also discussed in this chapter.
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