Cadmium accumulation potential and antioxidant responses in safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) as a hyperaccumulator in different soil types

This study was conducted to assess the cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulation potential of safflower using two different soil types (alkaline and acidic) and five different Cd doses (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg Cd kg−¹). The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Significant reductions were observed in the fresh and dry weights of plant shoots and roots with increasing Cd doses. In parallel with increasing Cd doses, Cd concentrations in shoots and roots, as well as the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), translocation factor (TF), and enrichment factor (EF), increased. The amount of Cd removed from the soil by the plant also increased. The bioaccumulation factor initially increased with the applied Cd doses but tended to decrease at higher concentrations. The Cd content in the shoot of plants grown in alkaline and acidic soils increased by 408% and 781%, respectively, compared to the control. Catalase (CAT) activity increased 2.35 and 2.54 times, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased 2.97 and 3.52 times in plants grown in alkaline and acidic soils, respectively. BAF value greater than 1 confirms safflower’s capacity to accumulate Cd. These results suggest that safflower may be a promising candidate for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils.