Morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of different plant species to Cd stress

Naturally plants exposed with many adverse environmental conditions like biotic and a biotic stress. Despite all others stresses heavy metal stress is one of great importance which has a notable adverse effects on crop productivity and growth, heavy metal stress triggers different responses in plants, ranging from biochemical responses to crop yield. Understanding the biochemical and molecular responses to Cd stress is essential for a holistic opinion of plant resistance mechanisms to heavy metal stress. This review illustrates some aspects of Cd stress that make changes in morphological, physiological and biochemical changes of plants. Cd stress gradually declines photosynthetic rate due to limited access of CO2 which decrease gas exchange results triggers in reduction of plant growth and productivity. It also reduce leaf size, stems extension and root proliferation and decrease water absorption and transportation by causing turgor loss through decreasing the cell wall elasticity. Exposure to Cd stress increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production which is harmful for the cell components and toxicity of cadmium is responsible for alterations in the antioxidant systems and increase of lipid peroxidation can be strongly limited at both production and consumption level by increasing antioxidative systems. This review focuses on the ability and strategies of higher plants to respond adapt and overcome the Cd stress.