Hydrogen Peroxide‐Mediated Growth of the Root System Occurs via Auxin Signaling Modification and Variations in the Expression of Cell‐Cycle Genes in Rice Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium Stress

Abstract

The link between root growth, H₂O₂, auxin signaling, and the cell cycle in cadmium (Cd)-stressed rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Zhonghua No. 11) was analyzed in this study. Exposure to Cd induced a significant accumulation of Cd, but caused a decrease in zinc (Zn) content which resulted from the decreased expression of OsHMA9 and OsZIP. Analysis using a Cd-specific probe showed that Cd was mainly localized in the meristematic zone and vascular tissues. Formation and elongation of the root system were significantly promoted by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), but were markedly inhibited by N,N'-dimethylthiourea (DMTU) under Cd stress. The effect of H₂O₂ on Cd-stressed root growth was further confirmed by examining a gain-of-function rice mutant (carrying catalase1 and glutathione-S-transferase) in the presence or absence of diphenylene iodonium. DR5-GUS staining revealed close associations between H₂O₂ and the concentration and distribution of auxin. H₂O₂ affected the expression of key genes, including OsYUCCA, OsPIN, OsARF, and OsIAA, in the auxin signaling pathway in Cd-treated plants. These results suggest that H₂O₂ functions upstream of the auxin signaling pathway. Furthermore, H₂O₂ modified the expression of cell-cycle genes in Cd-treated roots. The effects of H₂O₂ on root system growth are therefore linked to auxin signal modification and to variations in the expression of cell-cycle genes in Cd-stressed rice. A working model for the effects of H₂O₂ on Cd-stressed root system growth is thus proposed and discussed in this paper.