Response of barley plants to Fe deficiency and Cd contamination as affected by S starvation

Cadmium exposure affects iron acquisition in barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings

This study addresses the question of the interference between iron (Fe) nutrition and cadmium (Cd) toxicity at the level of growth performance, phytosiderophores (PS) release, micronutrient accumulation and expression of genes involved in Fe homeostasis in barley seedlings, a plant with strategy II-based response to Fe shortage. Cd exposure induced responses similar to those of genuine Fe deficiency also in Fe-sufficient plants. Most genes involved in PS biosynthesis and secretion (HvNAS3, HvNAS4, HvNAS6, HvNAS7, HvNAAT-A, HvDMAS1 and HvTOM1) induced by Fe deprivation were also significantly upregulated in the presence of Cd under Fe sufficient conditions. Accordingly, the enhanced expression of these genes in roots under Cd exposure was accompanied by an increase of PS release. However, induced expression of HvIRO2 and the downregulation of HvIDEF1 and HvIRT1, after Cd exposure, suggested the presence of a pathway that induces HvIRO2-mediated PS biosynthesis under Cd stress, which probably is not simply caused by Fe deficiency. The downregulation of HvIRT1 and HvNramp5 may represent a protective mechanism at transcriptional level against further Cd uptake by these transporters. These results likely indicate that Cd itself may be able to activate Fe acquisition mechanism in an Fe-independent manner.

Transcriptional and physiological changes in relation to Fe uptake under conditions of Fe-deficiency and Cd-toxicity in roots of Vigna radiata L

We investigated transcriptional and physiological changes in relation to Fe transport and uptake under various conditions of iron (Fe)-deficiency and cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Responses to four such Fe/Cd conditions were evaluated, revealing that oxidative stress was generated in the presence of Cd, followed by a decrease in Fe and an increase in Cd concentrations in green gram (Vigna radiata) material, whereas supplementation with Fe had a protective effect against Cd toxicity. The involvement of enzymes in Fe-uptake for the formation of root-nodules was largely reduced in the presence of Cd toxicity, a condition recovered by Fe-supplementation. Insufficient ferric chelate reducing activity in Fe-deprived roots in the presence of Cd was also largely improved by Fe supplementation. The expression of Fe(2+) transporters (IRT1, IRT2, and IRT3), Fe(III) chelate reductase (FRO1-FRO8) and phytochelatin synthase (PCS1, PCS2 and PCS3) genes was up regulated for the first 5 days and decreased after 10 days in roots in the presence of Cd toxicity, but was sustained with Fe-supplementation. Additionally, root biomass was fully recovered in plants in the presence of Fe during Cd toxicity. Our results suggest that Fe-status plays a significant role in ameliorating the damage in Fe transport for chelation and its uptake caused by Cd toxicity. This supports the hypothesis that leguminous plants, particularly those that are sensitive to Fe such as green gram, can cope to some extent with Cd toxicity by improving the uptake and transport of Fe.

Ethylene production is associated with alleviation of cadmium-induced oxidative stress by sulfur in mustard types differing in ethylene sensitivity

We studied the response of ethylene-sensitive (Pusa Jai Kisan) and ethylene-insensitive (SS2) mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivars to 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM SO₄(2-), and the effect of 1.0 mM SO₄(2-) was studied in the amelioration of 50 µM cadmium (Cd). The Cd-induced oxidative stress and Cd accumulation were greater in SS2 than Pusa Jai Kisan, but sulfur (S) application alleviated Cd-induced oxidative stress more prominently in Pusa Jai Kisan by increasing S-metabolism and synthesis of reduced glutathione (GSH) and ethylene production; and promoted photosynthesis and plant dry mass under Cd stress. The ethylene-sensitive cultivar responded more to S treatment under Cd stress and showed increased activity of antioxidant system resulting in increased photosynthesis and growth. Cadmium treatment resulted in rapid increase in ethylene formation which adversely influenced photosynthesis and plant dry mass. However, S and ethephon application to Cd-treated plants lowered ethylene formation to optimal range responsible for maximal GSH synthesis and protection against Cd-induced oxidative stress. The similarity of the effectiveness of 1.0 mM SO₄(2-) with 200 µL L(-1) ethylene source as ethephon in alleviation of 50 µM Cd further verifies that differential alleviation of Cd toxicity in the two cultivars by S was dependent on ethylene production. The results suggest that ethylene production determines Cd stress alleviation by S via regulatory interaction with antioxidant metabolism. Thus, ethylene production and sensitivity bear a prominent role in alleviation of Cd stress by S and can be used as a criterion for developing Cd tolerant genotypes.

Involvement of sulphur nutrition in modulating iron deficiency responses in photosynthetic organelles of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

The aim of this study was to characterize the roles of sulphur (S) nutrition in modulating the responses to iron (Fe) deficiency in the photosynthetic organelles of oilseed rape. Eight-week-old plants grown hydroponically were fed with S-sufficient or S-deprived solution with or without Fe(III)-EDTA. Responses to four S and Fe combined treatments were analysed after 5 and 10 days. Leaf chlorosis was generated by either S- or Fe-deprivation, with a decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoid content. These negative effects were more severe in the absence of S. The expression of Fe²⁺ transporter (IRT1) and Fe(III) chelate reductase (FRO1) gene was induced for the first 5 days and decreased after 10 days in the S-deprived roots, but largely improved by S supply even in the absence of Fe. Lack of ferric chelate reducing activity in the Fe-deprived roots in the absence of S was largely improved by S supply. The activity of photosynthesis, RuBisCO and sucrose synthase was closely related to S status in leaves. Electron microscopic observation showed that the Fe-deficiency in the absence of S greatly resulted in a severe disorganisation of thylakoid lamellae with loss of grana. However, these impacts of Fe-deficiency were largely restored in the presence of S. The present results indicate that S nutrition has significant role in ameliorating the damages in photosynthetic apparatus caused by Fe-deficiency.

Toward new perspectives on the interaction of iron and sulfur metabolism in plants

The deficiency of nutrients has been extensively investigated because of its impact on plant growth and yield. So far, the effects of a combined nutrient limitation have rarely been analyzed, although such situations are likely to occur in agroecosystems. Iron (Fe) is a prerequisite for many essential cellular functions. Its availability is easily becoming limiting for plant growth and thus higher plants have evolved different strategies to cope with Fe deficiency. Sulfur (S) is an essential macro-nutrient and the responses triggered by shortage situations have been well characterized. The interaction between these two nutrients is less investigated but might be of particular importance because most of the metabolically active Fe is bound to S in Fe-S clusters. The biosynthesis of Fe-S clusters requires the provision of reduced S and chelated Fe in a defined stoichiometric ratio, strongly suggesting coordination between the metabolisms of the two nutrients. Here the available information on interactions between Fe and S nutritional status is evaluated. Experiments with Arabidopsis thaliana and crop plants indicate a co-regulation and point to a possible role of Fe-S cluster synthesis or abundance in the Fe/S network.

Cadmium tolerance in Brassica juncea roots and shoots is affected by antioxidant status and phytochelatin biosynthesis

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) tolerates high concentrations of heavy metals and is a promising species for the purpose of phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd) from metal-contaminated soils. This work investigates the extent to which antioxidant and metal sequestering mechanisms are responsible for this tolerance. To this end, seedlings of Indian mustard were grown for 7 days in 0, 50 or 200 μM Cd. Increasing Cd concentrations led to a progressive Cd accumulation in roots and shoots, accompanied by an organ-dependent alteration in mineral uptake, and a decrease in root/shoot length and fresh/dry weight. Cd negatively affected chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and activated the xanthophyll cycle, suggesting the need to protect the photosynthetic apparatus from photoinhibition. Shoots seemed to be less efficient than roots in ROS scavenging, as indicated by the different response to Cd stress shown by peroxidase and catalase activities and, solely with regard to the highest Cd concentration, by ascorbate level. Such a different antioxidant capacity might at least partly explain differences in the trend of lipid peroxidation observed in the two organs. Moreover, in both roots and shoots, glutathione and phytochelatin content markedly increased under Cd stress, regardless of the metal concentration involved.