Cadmium-accumulator straw application alleviates cadmium stress of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) by promoting photosynthetic activity and antioxidative enzyme activities

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2822-4
• Publication Date: 2018-09-03T11:25:09Z
• Authors: Yi Tang; Yongdong Xie; Guochao Sun; Huaqiang Tan; Lijin Lin; Huanxiu Li; Ming’an Liao; Zhihui Wang; Xiulan Lv; Dong Liang; Hui Xia; Xun Wang; Jin Wang; Bo Xiong; Yangxia Zheng; Zhongqun He; Lihua Tu
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Plant Stems; Asteraceae; Solanum; Plant Roots; 01 natural sciences; Crop Production; Plant Leaves; Seedlings; Biomass; Photosynthesis; Cadmium; Lactuca; Peroxidase; Plant Proteins

The effects of application of straw derived from cadmium (Cd) accumulator plants (Siegesbeckia orientalis, Conyza canadensis, Eclipta prostrata, and Solanum photeinocarpum) on growth and Cd accumulation of lettuce plants grown under Cd exposure were studied. Treatment with straw of the four Cd-accumulator species promoted growth, photosynthesis, and soluble protein contents and enhanced the activities of peroxidase in leaves of lettuce seedlings. The biomass of shoot of lettuce from high to low in turn is the treatment of C. canadensis straw > S. photeinocarpum straw > S. orientalis > E. prostrata > Control. The Cd content in edible parts (shoots) of the lettuce plants was significantly decreased in the presence of straw from the Cd-accumulator species, except the presence of the straw of E. prostrata. And, the greatest reduction in Cd content in shoots was 27.09% in the S. photeinocarpum straw treatment compared with that of the control. Therefore, application of straw of S. orientalis, C. canadensis, and S. photeinocarpum can promote the growth of lettuce seedlings, and decrease their Cd accumulation, when grown in Cd-contaminated soil, which is beneficial for production of lettuce safe for human consumption.