Cadmium toxicity in plants: from transport to tolerance mechanisms.

Cadmium (Cd), a non-essential heavy metal, induces severe phytotoxicity through oxidative stress and cellular homeostasis disruption. Chronic Cd exposure inhibits plant growth via leaf chlorosis, stunted stem elongation, and impaired root architecture, while disrupting physiological functions through chlorophyll degradation, membrane peroxidation, and antioxidant system collapse. This review systematically investigates plant adaptive responses to Cd stress.