Effect of cadmium on concentration of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in shoot of different cultivars of wheat

The aim of this research was to evaluate the average concentrations of micronutrients including: Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) in the shoots of different cultivars of wheat in stem elongation stage in a soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd). The treatments consisted of three levels of Cd (0 (as control, Cd0), 40 (Cd40) and 80 (Cd80) mg Cd/kg soil) and fourteen different cultivars of wheat (‘Bahar’, ‘Alvand’, ‘Niknezhad’, ‘Pishtaz’, ‘Azadi’, ‘Shahriyar’, ‘Pishgam’, ‘Marvdasht’, ‘Parsi’, ‘Sivand’, ‘Shiraz’, ‘Omid’, ‘Roshan’ and ‘Navid’), respectively. The results showed the effect of Cd on concentrations of micronutrients were highly significant. Cu concentration was decreased in shoot of all studied cultivars, as levels of Cd were increased. Except two cultivars (‘Pishgam’ and ‘Omid’) which showed an increase in Fe concentration in Cd40 comparing with control, Fe concentration was decreased in other cultivars. Most and least Cd concentration in Cd40 was recorded by Niknezhad (7 mg/kg DW) and Parsi (2 mg/kg DW), respectively. Also, most and least Cd concentration in Cd80 was observed in ‘Pishgam’ (20 mg/kg DW) and ‘Navid’ (6 mg/kg DW). Generally, ‘Niknezhad’ and ‘Pishgam’ had the highest reliability of cadmium uptake. Also the lowest reliability of cadmium uptake was observed about ‘Parsi’ and ‘Navid’.