Cross-species extrapolation of prediction models for cadmium transfer from soil to corn grain

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 6;8(12):e80855. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080855. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal for both plants and animals. The presence of Cd in agricultural soils is of great concern regarding its transfer in the soil-plant system. This study investigated the transfer of Cd (exogenous salts) from a wide range of Chinese soils to corn grain (Zhengdan 958). Through multiple stepwise regressions, prediction models were developed, with the combination of Cd bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Zhengdan 958 and soil pH, organic matter (OM) content, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Moreover, these prediction models from Zhengdan 958 were applied to other non-model corn species through cross-species extrapolation approach. The results showed that the pH of the soil was the most important factor that controlled Cd uptake and lower pH was more favorable for Cd bioaccumulation in corn grain. There was no significant difference among three prediction models in the different Cd levels. When the prediction models were applied to other non-model corn species, the ratio ranges between the predicted BCF values and the measured BCF values were within an interval of 2 folds and close to the solid line of 1∶1 relationship. Furthermore, these prediction models also reduced the measured BCF intra-species variability for all non-model corn species. Therefore, the prediction models established in this study can be applied to other non-model corn species and be useful for predicting the Cd bioconcentration in corn grain and assessing the ecological risk of Cd in different soils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cadmium / toxicity*
  • Cations, Divalent
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Species Specificity
  • Zea mays / classification
  • Zea mays / drug effects*
  • Zea mays / growth & development

Substances

  • Cations, Divalent
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Cadmium

Grants and funding

This work was jointly supported by the Special Fund of Public Industry in China (Agriculture, project No. 200903015; website: http://www.most.gov.cn/) and the Natural Science Foundation of Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Project No.2013-9; website:http://www.iarrp.cn). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.