Cadmium Trafficking and Chemical Communication in the Rhizosphere of Brassica Juncea

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an effective technique in countering heavy metal toxicity in soil. Roots and root exudates play a pivotal role in the process of phytoremediation. Heavy metal trafficking and chemical communication in the rhizosphere helps in overall adaptation and tolerance of hyperaccumulator plant. Metabolic profiling of exudates has been considered particularly important to understand the overall signaling of metabolites while countering an abiotic stress. Brassica juncea has been considered as a plant having phytoremediation capabilities. This is because it has high biomass and is a hyperaccumulator plant. In this study effect of cadmium in the roots of Brassica juncea is analyzed and cadmium trafficking in the rhizosphere is dissected by conducting metabolic profiling of root exudates. The results showed that metabolic profile of the root exudates was significantly altered in response to cadmium stress as many Phyto chelating compounds that is different amino acids, organic acids, phenols etc. were found on the treated groups. These compounds are expected to have major importance in the adaptation of Brassica juncea in response to cadmium stress. Minimal to no significance has been observed in root system architecture of Brassica juncea that is only root hair density and length are clearly significant all other parameters are non significant or showed minimal significance