Abstract
Strigolactones (SLs) are classified into plant hormones, playing a key role as a mediator of plant growth in response to several abiotic stresses, including drought and salinity. However, the role of SLs in cadmium (Cd)-induced stress to plants is still unknown. The physiological responses of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) stressed in 10 μmol L−1 Cd to exogenous synthetic SLs analog, GR24 were studied in hydroponics. The Cd stress significantly caused the adverse effects on plant growth and root morphology, inhibited photosynthesis, but boosted lipid peroxidation of Switchgrass seedlings. After treatment of 1 μmol L−1 GR24, the above adverse effects caused by Cd stress were significantly alleviated, mainly reflects in improvement of shoot biomass, relative water content, root development, chlorophyll contents, activities of typical antioxidant enzymes, nutrient uptake. The reason for exogenous GR24 alleviating cadmium toxicity might be owing to that exogenous GR24 promoted the content of endogenous SLs, increased some essential element Fe (iron), Zn (zinc), Mn (manganese) and Cu (copper) uptake and reduced cadmium uptake, accumulation and partition in shoot of switchgrass seedlings.
Highlights
Cadmium (Cd) is a known pollutant that accumulates in arable land and water resources
Plant biomass of roots and shoots was markedly reduced under Cd stress (p < 0.05); a similar trend was observed in the relative water content
After a supplement with GR24 to Cd-stress seedlings, the fresh weight of seedlings and relative water content were significantly increased compared with Cd alone
Summary
Cadmium (Cd) is a known pollutant that accumulates in arable land and water resources. It is extremely toxic to plants without any beneficial function. Cd is readily taken up by the plant root and transported to other parts, threatening human health (through the food chain) as well as ecosystem safety [1,2]. Excess Cd in culture substrates causes a series of deleterious effects in plant cells. Visible morphological symptoms occur in plants, such as necrosis of leaves, browning of roots and growth inhibition [3,4]. Excess Cd can disturb water and nutrient uptake [5], and inhibit photosynthesis and transpiration [6]. Due to Cd toxicity in plants, plants have evolved a series of strategies to cope with excess Cd, including an active antioxidant system, vacuolar sequestration and immobilization by the cell wall [7]. Other reports indicated selective subcellular distribution of Cd in plants related with Cd detoxification [8]
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