Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress

Abstract Background Consumption of leafy vegetables is a primary route of cadmium (Cd) exposure in the human body. Salicylic acid (SA) is a major stress signaling molecule that alleviates Cd toxicity in various plants. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of different SA concentrations on spin...

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Main Authors: Wen Tang, Le Liang, Haixing Yang, Xuena Yu, Xudong Ye, Yongdong Xie, Rulong Li, Lijin Lin, Zhi Huang, Bo Sun, Guochao Sun, Li Liu, Huanxiu Li, Yi Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05948-y
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author Wen Tang
Le Liang
Haixing Yang
Xuena Yu
Xudong Ye
Yongdong Xie
Rulong Li
Lijin Lin
Zhi Huang
Bo Sun
Guochao Sun
Li Liu
Huanxiu Li
Yi Tang
author_facet Wen Tang
Le Liang
Haixing Yang
Xuena Yu
Xudong Ye
Yongdong Xie
Rulong Li
Lijin Lin
Zhi Huang
Bo Sun
Guochao Sun
Li Liu
Huanxiu Li
Yi Tang
author_sort Wen Tang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Consumption of leafy vegetables is a primary route of cadmium (Cd) exposure in the human body. Salicylic acid (SA) is a major stress signaling molecule that alleviates Cd toxicity in various plants. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of different SA concentrations on spinach growth, cadmium accumulation, and stress resistance physiology under cadmium stress (50 µmol/L). Results Cd stress significantly markedly decreased spinach growth and biomass, reduced its photosynthetic efficiency, increased activities of antioxidative enzymes, and upregulated the relative expression of several genes involved in cadmium absorption and transport compared to the control. The exogenous application of SA mitigated the harmful effects of Cd in spinach. 0.8 and 1.6 mmol/L SA significantly increased spinach root length, plant height, and biomass and decreased the Cd content in shoots by 30.03 and 17.35% compared to the Cd-treated group. Moreover, SA alleviated the yellowing of leaves caused by Cd stress. Exogenous SA ameliorated Cd toxicity in spinach by reducing reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, proline, and soluble protein levels. Exogenous SA application reduced Cd absorption in spinach leaves by downregulating the expression of genes involved in Cd transport, such as SoHMA4-like, SoNramp3.1-like, SoNramp6-like, and SoNramp7.2-like. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis showed that exogenous SA application under Cd stress was correlated with plant Cd content, photosynthetic pigment content, and relative expression of Cd absorption and transportation-related genes. Conclusions To summarize, these findings indicate that SA mitigates Cd toxicity in spinach by reversing the adverse effects of Cd stress on plant growth and reducing Cd accumulation in the shoots.
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spelling doaj-art-043ebdee0b224c388c2e63d3d43c88232025-08-20T02:31:38ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292024-12-0124111410.1186/s12870-024-05948-yExogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stressWen Tang0Le Liang1Haixing Yang2Xuena Yu3Xudong Ye4Yongdong Xie5Rulong Li6Lijin Lin7Zhi Huang8Bo Sun9Guochao Sun10Li Liu11Huanxiu Li12Yi Tang13College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityChengdu Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesMeishan Dongpo District Science and Technology Innovation Development CenterCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversitySichuan Agricultural University Library, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Consumption of leafy vegetables is a primary route of cadmium (Cd) exposure in the human body. Salicylic acid (SA) is a major stress signaling molecule that alleviates Cd toxicity in various plants. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of different SA concentrations on spinach growth, cadmium accumulation, and stress resistance physiology under cadmium stress (50 µmol/L). Results Cd stress significantly markedly decreased spinach growth and biomass, reduced its photosynthetic efficiency, increased activities of antioxidative enzymes, and upregulated the relative expression of several genes involved in cadmium absorption and transport compared to the control. The exogenous application of SA mitigated the harmful effects of Cd in spinach. 0.8 and 1.6 mmol/L SA significantly increased spinach root length, plant height, and biomass and decreased the Cd content in shoots by 30.03 and 17.35% compared to the Cd-treated group. Moreover, SA alleviated the yellowing of leaves caused by Cd stress. Exogenous SA ameliorated Cd toxicity in spinach by reducing reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, proline, and soluble protein levels. Exogenous SA application reduced Cd absorption in spinach leaves by downregulating the expression of genes involved in Cd transport, such as SoHMA4-like, SoNramp3.1-like, SoNramp6-like, and SoNramp7.2-like. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis showed that exogenous SA application under Cd stress was correlated with plant Cd content, photosynthetic pigment content, and relative expression of Cd absorption and transportation-related genes. Conclusions To summarize, these findings indicate that SA mitigates Cd toxicity in spinach by reversing the adverse effects of Cd stress on plant growth and reducing Cd accumulation in the shoots.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05948-ySpinachCadmiumReactive oxygen speciesSalicylic acidPrincipal component analysisCorrelation analysis
spellingShingle Wen Tang
Le Liang
Haixing Yang
Xuena Yu
Xudong Ye
Yongdong Xie
Rulong Li
Lijin Lin
Zhi Huang
Bo Sun
Guochao Sun
Li Liu
Huanxiu Li
Yi Tang
Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress
BMC Plant Biology
Spinach
Cadmium
Reactive oxygen species
Salicylic acid
Principal component analysis
Correlation analysis
title Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress
title_full Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress
title_fullStr Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress
title_full_unstemmed Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress
title_short Exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) shoots under cadmium stress
title_sort exogenous salicylic acid reduces cadmium content in spinach spinacia oleracea l shoots under cadmium stress
topic Spinach
Cadmium
Reactive oxygen species
Salicylic acid
Principal component analysis
Correlation analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05948-y
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