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The research investigates how exogenous organic matter influences cadmium uptake and tolerance in rice cultivars.

March 28, 2026Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety1 citationsOpen Access

Exogenous organic matter modulates cadmium uptake in rice (Oryza sativa L.): Linking root surface chemistry to metal translocation and tolerance

WHWeiwei HuanUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences KLKewei LiChinese Academy of Sciences JNJackson Nkoh Nkoh

Key Points

The research investigates how exogenous organic matter influences cadmium uptake and tolerance in rice cultivars.
Used hydroponic systems to analyze two rice cultivars under biochar and organic acid treatments.
Measured root elongation, cadmium translocation, and root surface charge characteristics.
Profiled root exudates under cadmium stress to determine chemical changes.
WYJ24 rice cultivar showed greater cadmium tolerance with higher root elongation compared to FD88.
Cadmium complexation was significantly higher in WYJ24 (70.7%) than in FD88 (22.9%) after 10 days.
Biochar amendments increased root surface negative charge, correlating with cadmium absorption and exchange.
Organic acids exhibited different effects on cadmium adsorption between the two cultivars.

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd(II)) poses a severe threat to rice production and food safety, and exogenous organic matter (EOM) offers a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution for Cd(II) remediation. Nevertheless, the effect of EON on root electrochemistry and the relationship with Cd(II) uptake and sequestration remains elusive. This study elucidates the Cd(II) tolerance mechanisms in two rice cultivars ( Oryza sativa L., Cd(II)-tolerant WYJ24 and Cd(II)-sensitive FD88) in a hydroponic system under biochar and organic acid treatments. The results revealed that WYJ24 exhibited superior Cd(II) tolerance, maintaining higher root elongation (1.35–3.66 times > FD88) and restricting Cd(II) translocation (shoot-to-root ratio < FD88). This observation was associated with enhanced Cd(II) complexation (70.7% vs. 22.9% after 10 d) and fewer root negative charges (-10.6 vs. −13.4 mV at pH 6.73) in the roots of WYJ24 relative to FD88, respectively. Root exudate profiling under Cd(II) stress revealed WYJ24 exhibiting a targeted, transient increase in specific acids (e.g., malic, quinic), while the sensitive FD88 exhibited a significant, dysregulated exudation. Also, biochar-supplemented media significantly increased root negative zeta potential and functional group concentration, which significantly correlated with total absorbed and exchangeable Cd(II). However, organic acids exhibited cultivar-specific responses, with oxalic acid modulating Cd(II) adsorption in FD88 via protonation while enhancing complexation in WYJ24. Therefore, the findings reveal that Cd(II) tolerance is governed by a combination of root surface properties and internal sequestration efficiency, and that organic amendments function by selectively modifying the root interface. However, the translation of these hydroponic insights into field applications requires future validation under realistic soil conditions. • Integrating root surface traits, exudation, and internal detoxification defines tolerance. • Root surface zeta potential is a key predictor of Cd absorption and speciation fate. • Cd-tolerant rice WYJ24 restricts Cd uptake via fewer negative root surface charge. • Biochar amendments increase root surface negative charge and functional groups. • Oxalic acid suppresses Cd uptake in the sensitive FD88 via root surface protonation.

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