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Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal contaminant in agricultural soils. Phytoremediation using hyperaccumulator plants is a promising remediation strategy. This study investigated the effects of TiO2 NPs on Cd uptake and accumulation in the hyperaccumulator ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) grown in Cd-spiked soil. The aim was to evaluate the potential application of TiO2 NPs to enhance the phytoextraction efficiency of ramie for removing Cd from contaminated soils. Ramie was cultivated in soil spiked with 5 mg/kg Cd, with or without 500 mg/kg TiO2 NPs. The results showed TiO2 NPs significantly increased Cd concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves of ramie by 35%, 75%, and 278% respectively, compared to control plants. Cd levels reached 146 mg/kg in roots and 102 mg/kg in leaves with TiO2 NPs. The bioconcentration factor rose from 21.6 to 29.2 and translocation factor from 0.3 to 0.7 with nanoparticles. This indicates TiO2 NPs increased Cd bioavailability in soil and translocation to shoots. The higher Cd accumulation, especially in leaves, demonstrates the potential of TiO2 NPs to improve ramie's phytoextraction capacity. With TiO2 NP treatment, soil Cd levels decreased by an estimated 20–30% after 8 weeks of ramie cultivation, indicating enhanced phytoextraction. This study provides evidence that the application of TiO2 NPs can enhance the efficiency of phytoremediation using hyperaccumulator plants like ramie for remediation of Cd-contaminated soils.

Eco-friendly and efficient strategies for eliminating cadmium (Cd) phytoremediation plant residues are needed. The present study investigated the feasibility of feeding Cd accumulator maize to beef cattle. In total, 20 cattle at 6 months of age were selected and randomly allocated into two groups fed with 85.82% (fresh basis) Cd accumulator maize (CAM) or normal maize (control [Con]) silage diets for 107 d. Feeding CAM did not affect the body weight (P = 0.24), while it decreased feed intake and increased feed efficiency of beef cattle (P

Cadmium (Cd) is a major heavy metal toxicant found in industrial zones. Humans and animals are exposed to it through their diet, which results in various physiological problems. In the current study, the toxic effects of Cd on the liver were investigated by whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of the livers of Xiangxi heifers fed a diet with excess Cd. We randomly divided six healthy heifers into two groups. The first group received a control diet, whereas the second group received Cd-exceeding diets for 100 days. After 100 days, the livers were collected. A total of 551 differentially expressed mRNAs, 24 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 169 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified (p < 0.05, |log2FC| >1). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. We found that under Cd exposure, DEGs were enriched in the adenosine 5'-monophosphate–activated protein kinase pathway, which is involved in autophagy regulation, and the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor pathway, which is involved in lipid metabolism. In addition, the apolipoprotein A4 gene, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, the anti-apoptotic gene ATPase H+/K+ transporting the nongastric alpha2 subunit, and the cholesterol metabolism–associated gene endothelial lipase gene were significantly downregulated. C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 3, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase, which are involved in the development of fatty liver, were significantly upregulated. These genes revealed the main effects of Cd on the liver of Xiangxi yellow heifers. The current study provides insightful information regarding the DEGs involved in autophagy regulation, apoptosis, lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant enzyme activity. These may serve as useful biomarkers for predicting and treating Cd-related diseases in the future.

The objective of current study was to explore the phytochemical potential of elephant grass cultivated on cadmium (Cd) polluted soil of Hunan Providence, China. Results of current study explored that the plant height, yield and tiller number were similar in elephant grass planted on soil with different Cd concentration (P>0.05). In stem, the Cd contents increased from 0.80±0.14 mg·kg-1 to 5.67±4.25 mg·kg-1 with the increase of the soil Cd contents from 1.68 mg·kg-1 to 2.99 mg·kg-1 (P<0.05), while the Cd contents in stem decreased from 3.26±1.89 mg·kg-1 to 1.24±0.30 mg·kg-1 with further increase in the soil Cd concentration from 5.34 mg·kg-1 to 9.37 mg·kg-1 (P<0.05). Similar trends of results were observed for Cd contents in leaves and roots of elephant grass (P<0.05). Bioconcentration factor (BCF) results showed that BCF of Cd in stem, leaves, roots and whole plant of elephant grass initially increased when Cd concentration of soil increased from 1.68 mg·kg-1 to 2.99 mg·kg-1 (P<0.05), while the BCF of Cd in stem, leaves, roots and whole plant of elephant grass decreased with further increased of Cd concentration of soil (P<0.05) and the lowest BCF of Cd in stem, leaves, roots and whole plant of elephant grass was observed when the Cd concentration of soil was 9.37 mg·kg-1 (P<0.05). Translocation factor (TF) results showed that TF initially increased when Cd concentration of soil increased from 1.68 mg·kg-1 to 2.99 mg·kg-1 (P<0.05), while the TF decreased with further increased of Cd concentration of soil (P<0.05) and the lowest TF of was observed when the Cd concentration of soil was 9.37 mg·kg-1 (P<0.05). Cadmium distribution coefficient results of stem explored that soil Cd concentration did not influence the Cd distribution coefficient of stem (P>0.05). Similarly, Cd distribution coefficient results of leaves explored that soil Cd concentration from 1.68 mg·kg-1 to 5.34 mg·kg-1 did not influence the Cd distribution coefficient of leaves (P>0.05), however, Cd concentration 9.37 mg·kg-1 in the soil significantly decreased the Cd distribution coefficient of leaves (P<0.05). Based on results of current study, it could be suggested that Cd polluted land in Hunan province of China could be repaired by planting elephant grass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]