Effects of drought on the accumulation and redistribution of cadmium in peanuts at different developmental stages

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to investigate the impact of water deficit on cadmium (Cd) accumulation in peanut plants during different developmental stages. Two contrasting peanut cultivars, Fenghua 1 (high-biomass cultivar) and Silihong (low-biomass cultivar), were grown in a Cd-contaminated arable soil under different water regimes. The two cultivars differed from each other in seed Cd concentrations. Fenghua 1 exhibited lower Cd concentrations in the seeds than Silihong, which is associated with root-to-shoot Cd translocation. Drought plays different roles in the translocation and redistribution of Cd in peanut plants during different developmental stages. At the seedling stage, drought decreased shoot Cd concentrations for both cultivars, whereas at the pod-filling and pod-ripened stages, drought increased shoot Cd concentrations. Similarly, drought stress reduced pod Cd concentrations at the pod-filling stages and increased at the pod-ripened stages. Seed Cd concentrations in mature plants were increased by drought for both cultivars. Seed Cd concentrations were negatively correlated with biomasses of shoots and pods, but positively correlated with Cd concentration in the shoots and pods. Increased seed Cd concentrations under drought stress might result from the concentration effects due to drought induced decrease of plant growth.