Effects of Different Cadmium Levels on the Growth and Nutrient Elements in Spinach

A hydroponic experiment was carried out to determine the effects of different cadmium(Cd) levels on the gro-wth and nutrient elements in two spinach cultivars: Xinshijiquanneng and Aozhoudaye.The weights of dry shoots were sig-nificantly reduced when they were exposed in cadmium.Cd was easily taken up by the plants and its concentrations in shoots and roots increased with increasing concentrations in the growth medium in both two cultivars.Moreover,cadmium mainly accumulated in the roots.And it also caused some changes in uptake and distribution of nutrients in spinach.Under the influ-ence of cadmium,the concentration of calcium(Ca),magnesium(Mg),iron(Fe),and manganese(Mn) increased in shoot in Aozhoudaye and the concentration of iron(Fe) increased in shoot in Xinshijiquaneng.And the effects of cadmium on the nutrient elements were dependent on the elements,plant tissue,concentrations and genotypes of cadmium.