Abstract
Plants need a whole range of mineral elements as nutrients in order to grow. Some of these essential elements are needed in higher amounts (macronutrients), and others in lower amounts (micronutrients). They are absorbed by the roots, and distributed through the different plant parts. The presence of heavy metals, such as cadmium, can disturb this equilibrium, and can affect both the uptake of several of these elements by the roots and/or its distribution through the other plant parts. This can be due to several effects, such as competition with the same transporters, a disturbance in water uptake, or affecting key enzymes in the transport process. Although there are many publications concerning the effect of Cd on nutrient uptake, the results are sometimes contradictory, due to the fact that the effects are highly dependent on plant species and experimental conditions, among other factors. In this chapter we present an update on the main effects caused by Cd in mineral nutrient uptake, describing the elements that are reported to be most affected, and the known mechanisms that can cause the nutrient imbalance.
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