Abstract
It is important to research the rules about accumulation and distribution of arsenic and cadmium by tea plants, which will give us some scientific ideas about how to control the contents of arsenic and cadmium in tea. In this study, by field investigation and pot trial, we found that mobility of arsenic and cadmium in tea plants was low. Most arsenic and cadmium absorbed were fixed in feeding roots and only small amount was transported to the above-ground parts. Distribution of arsenic and cadmium, based on their concentrations of unit dry matter, in tea plants grown on un-contaminated soil was in the order: feeding roots>stems≈main roots>old leaves>young leaves. When tea plants were grown on polluted soils simulated by adding salts of these two metals, feeding roots possibly acted as a buffer and defense, and arsenic and cadmium were transported less to the above-ground parts. The concentration of cadmium in soil significantly and negatively correlated with chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and biomass production of tea plants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chang, P., Kim, J.Y., Kim, K.W., 2005. Concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals in vegetation at two abandoned mine tailings in South Korea. Environ. Geochem. Health, 27(2):109–119. [doi:10.1007/s10653-005-0130-7]
Ernst, W.H.O., 1980. Biochemical Aspects of Cadmium in Plants. In: Nriagu, J.O. (Ed.), Cadmium in the Environment. Wiley and Sons, New York, p.639–653.
Lagriffoul, A., Mocquot, B., Mench, M., Vangronsveld, J., 1998. Cadmium toxicity effects on growth, mineral and chlorophyll contents, and activities of stress related enzymes in young maize plants (Zea mays L.). Plant Soil, 200(2):241–250. [doi:10.1023/A:1004346905592]
Qian, Z., Sun, J., Tie, B.Q., Mao, X.Q., Zhan, L.Z., 2006. The toxic effect of Cu, Cd, As and their compound pollution on the duckweed. Chin. J. Eco-Agric., 14(3):135–137 (in Chinese).
Shi, Y.Z., Jin, L.M., Zhu, Y.S., 2007. The contents status quo and the cumulation characteristic of heavy metal in tea. China Tea, 6:17–19 (in Chinese).
Tan, J.X., Yin, J., Wang, W.Z., Jia, R.G., Shi, J.P., 1994. Effects of cadmium on the growth and physiologicol and biochemical reaction of wheat seedlings. J. Agric. Univ. Hebei, 17(Suppl.):83–87 (in Chinese).
van Assche, F., Clijsters, C., 1990. Effects of metals on enzyme activity in plants. Plant Cell Environ., 13(3):195–206. [doi:10.1111/j.1365-3040.1990.tb01304.x]
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Project supported by the Fund Program Management in Conversion of Achievement of the Ministry Science and Technology of China (No. 03EFN213300109) and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (No. Y304473)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shi, Yz., Ruan, Jy., Ma, Lf. et al. Accumulation and distribution of arsenic and cadmium by tea plants. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 9, 265–270 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0710631
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B0710631