Interactive Effects of Cd and NaCl on Growth and Mineral Nutrition in Hordeum vulgare L. (Var. Raihane)

Abstract

In this work, we investigated the combined effect of salt and cadmium on plant nutrition and 
Cd accumulation in the most cultivated barley variety in Tunisia, Raihane. Seedling were 
hydroponically subjected to four different treatment: the control without salt and Cd, 50mM 
NaCl alone, 10µM Cd alone and to the combination of Cd (10 µM) and NaCl (50 mM) 
during 1 month. At the harvest, plant growth, Cd content in shoots and roots and tissue 
nutrient concentrations in shoots(Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn) were measured. 50 mM NaCl alone 
does not significantly affected the morphology and the biomass of plants. However, when 
subjected to 10 µM Cd alone, plants of barley were less developed and produced low 
biomass as compared to control ones. NaCl addition to the Cd-treated plants further reduces 
the development and biomass production.  
With respect to nutrient acquisition results showed that NCl alone reduced Ca2+ and Fe2+ 
concentration in the shoots but not affected that of Zn and Mn. But Cd, applied alone or 
combined with NaCl disturbed all measured element concentration in the shoots. However, 
the addition of salt to the Cd-containing medium reduced significantly Cd accumulation in 
the roots and the shoots of plants. 
In conclusion, salt in the water irrigation is able to reduce Cd accumulation in this barley 
variety but it accentuated in the same time the toxic effect of this heavy metal in barley.