Does long-term cadmium exposure influence the composition of pectic polysaccharides in the cell wall of Medicago sativa stems?

An increased abundance of xylogalacturonan might hinder Cd binding in the cell wall due to the methylation of its galacturonic acid backbone. Probably, the exclusion of Cd from the cell wall and apoplast limits the entry of the heavy metal into the symplast and is an important factor during tolerance acquisition.