Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil
<i>Corchorus olitorius</i>, a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content, is normally collected from the wild, in areas that are prone to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, studies on how Cd accumulation affects vegetative and reproductive traits of leafy vegetables in South Africa are limi...
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/9/1200 |
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| author | Sibongokuhle Ndlovu Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla Nontuthuko R. Ntuli |
| author_facet | Sibongokuhle Ndlovu Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla Nontuthuko R. Ntuli |
| author_sort | Sibongokuhle Ndlovu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Corchorus olitorius</i>, a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content, is normally collected from the wild, in areas that are prone to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, studies on how Cd accumulation affects vegetative and reproductive traits of leafy vegetables in South Africa are limited. Therefore, this study tested the effect of Cd accumulation on <i>C. olitorius</i> morphological traits. Plants were grown under various Cd concentrations and studied for variation in vegetative and reproductive traits as well as accumulation in roots and shoots. Plants exposed to 5 mg/kg Cd had longer roots with higher moisture content, heavier fresh and dried stems, as well as dried leaves, which indicated a hormetic effect in <i>C. olitorius</i> after exposure to low Cd concentration in the soil. Again, plants treated with 5–10 mg/kg Cd, accumulated toxic (>10 mg/kg dry weight) Cd within shoots and roots, with minor morphological alterations. Plants could survive, with some morphological defects, Cd toxicity up to 20 mg/kg in soil. Only plants exposed to 5 mg/kg could reproduce. Cd accumulation increased with an increase in the soil, with higher accumulation in shoots. The translocation factor was high (>1) in all Cd concentrations. In conclusion, <i>C. olitorius</i> can accumulate toxic Cd, and yet grow and reproduce either normally or better than the control. The proposed dose of Cd that induces hormesis in <i>C. olitorius</i> is 5 mg/kg in the soil. Therefore, <i>C. olitorius</i> is suitable for phytoremediation of Cd contaminated soils, but unsafe for consumption when it grows in such areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:21:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64ae67cd700845e9bc5d7239c1fedd0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:21:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-64ae67cd700845e9bc5d7239c1fedd0c2023-11-20T13:38:38ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-09-0199120010.3390/plants9091200Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the SoilSibongokuhle Ndlovu0Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla1Nontuthuko R. Ntuli2Department of Botany, University of Zululand (Main Campus), Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South AfricaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Zululand (Main Campus), Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South AfricaDepartment of Botany, University of Zululand (Main Campus), Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa<i>Corchorus olitorius</i>, a leafy vegetable with high nutrient content, is normally collected from the wild, in areas that are prone to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, studies on how Cd accumulation affects vegetative and reproductive traits of leafy vegetables in South Africa are limited. Therefore, this study tested the effect of Cd accumulation on <i>C. olitorius</i> morphological traits. Plants were grown under various Cd concentrations and studied for variation in vegetative and reproductive traits as well as accumulation in roots and shoots. Plants exposed to 5 mg/kg Cd had longer roots with higher moisture content, heavier fresh and dried stems, as well as dried leaves, which indicated a hormetic effect in <i>C. olitorius</i> after exposure to low Cd concentration in the soil. Again, plants treated with 5–10 mg/kg Cd, accumulated toxic (>10 mg/kg dry weight) Cd within shoots and roots, with minor morphological alterations. Plants could survive, with some morphological defects, Cd toxicity up to 20 mg/kg in soil. Only plants exposed to 5 mg/kg could reproduce. Cd accumulation increased with an increase in the soil, with higher accumulation in shoots. The translocation factor was high (>1) in all Cd concentrations. In conclusion, <i>C. olitorius</i> can accumulate toxic Cd, and yet grow and reproduce either normally or better than the control. The proposed dose of Cd that induces hormesis in <i>C. olitorius</i> is 5 mg/kg in the soil. Therefore, <i>C. olitorius</i> is suitable for phytoremediation of Cd contaminated soils, but unsafe for consumption when it grows in such areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/9/1200cadmium toxicity<i>Corchorus olitorius</i>hormesisphytoremediationmorphological traits |
| spellingShingle | Sibongokuhle Ndlovu Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla Nontuthuko R. Ntuli Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil Plants cadmium toxicity <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> hormesis phytoremediation morphological traits |
| title | Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil |
| title_full | Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil |
| title_fullStr | Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil |
| title_short | Response of <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> Leafy Vegetable to Cadmium in the Soil |
| title_sort | response of i corchorus olitorius i leafy vegetable to cadmium in the soil |
| topic | cadmium toxicity <i>Corchorus olitorius</i> hormesis phytoremediation morphological traits |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/9/1200 |
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