Advances in Understanding Cadmium Stress and Breeding of Cd-Tolerant Crops

Cadmium pollution has emerged as a critical global environmental concern, attributed to its significant toxicity, environmental persistence, and the pervasiveness of contamination. Significantly, the bioaccumulation of cadmium in agricultural crops constitutes a primary vector for its entry into the human diet. This issue warrants urgent attention from both the scientific community and policy-makers to develop and implement effective mitigation strategies. This review delves into the physiological impacts of cadmium stress on plants: Suppression of photosynthetic activity, amplification of oxidative stress, disruptions in mineral nutrient homeostasis. Additionally, the resistance mechanisms deployed by plants in response to cadmium stress have been explored and the prospective contributions of molecular breeding strategies in augmenting crop tolerance to cadmium and minimizing its bioaccumulation have been assessed. By integrating and analyzing these findings, we seeks to inform future research trajectories and proffer strategic approaches to enhance agricultural sustainability, safeguard human health, and protect environmental integrity.