Liebig Review: Essential and Beneficial Elements in the Regulation of Cadmium Uptake and Tolerance in Crop Plants

ABSTRACT Cadmium (Cd 2 + ) contamination in agricultural soils has been reported to pose risks to crop productivity, food safety, and human health. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms by which essential (S, Zn, Fe, Mg, K, Ca) and beneficial (Si, Se, rare earth elements) elements mitigate Cd 2 + toxicity in plants. We examine their roles in the competitive inhibition of Cd 2+ uptake through the modulation of metal transporters, including NRAMP5, IRT1, and members of the HMA and ZIP families. They also enhance vacuolar sequestration via ABCC and HMA3 transporters, activate antioxidant defense systems and phytochelatins, and reinforce apoplastic barriers through the deposition of suberin and lignin. Recent advances in synergistic nutrient applications, particularly Zn–Si–Se combinations, reduce grain Cd 2+ by limiting root uptake, strengthening endodermal barriers, and enhancing internal detoxification. Furthermore, combining nutrient‐based interventions with rhizosphere microbiome management, modern plant breeding, and gene‐editing technologies targeting Cd 2+ transporters may provide additional synergistic benefits. This review highlights the importance of optimizing application strategies, preventing nutrient imbalances, and validating these approaches through long‐term field studies. Future perspectives include exploration of multi‐element interactions, and the development of nano‐enabled formulations to achieve effective and scalable Cd 2+ risk mitigation in agricultural production systems.