Cadmium in Cereal Crops: Uptake and Transport Mechanisms and Minimizing Strategies

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soils and accumulation in cereal grains have posed food security risks and serious health concerns worldwide. Understanding the Cd transport process and its management for minimizing Cd accumulation in cereals may help to improve crop growth and grain quality. In this review, we summarize Cd uptake, translocation, and accumulation mechanisms in cereal crops and discuss efficient measures to reduce Cd uptake as well as potential remediation strategies, including the applications of plant growth regulators, microbes, nanoparticles, and cropping systems and developing low-Cd grain cultivars by CRISPR/Cas9. In addition, miRNAs modulate Cd translocation, and accumulation in crops through the regulation of their target genes was revealed. Combined use of multiple remediation methods may successfully decrease Cd concentrations in cereals. The findings in this review provide some insights into innovative and applicable approaches for reducing Cd accumulation in cereal grains and sustainable management of Cd-contaminated paddy fields.