New insights into cadmium tolerance and accumulation in tomato: Dissecting root and shoot responses using cross-genotype grafting

Author(s)

Marques, Deyvid Novaes ; Nogueira, Marina Lima ; Gaziola, Salete Aparecida ; Batagin-Piotto, Katherine Derlene ; Freitas, Natalia Chagas ; Alcantara, Berenice Kussumoto ; Paiva, Luciano Vilela ; Mason, Chase ; Piotto, Fernando Angelo ; Azevedo, Ricardo Antunes

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Environmental Research; v. 216, p. 14-pg., 2023-01-01.

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most threatening soil and water contaminants in agricultural settings. In previous studies, we observed that Cd affects the metabolism and physiology of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants even after short-term exposure. The objective of this research was to use cross-genotype grafting to distinguish be-tween root-and shoot-mediated responses of tomato genotypes with contrasting Cd tolerance at the early stages of Cd exposure. This study provides the first report of organ-specific contributions in two tomato genotypes with contrasting Cd tolerance: Solanum lycopersicum cv. Calabash Rouge and Solanum lycopersicum cv. Pusa Ruby (which have been classified and further characterized as sensitive (S) and tolerant (T) to Cd, respectively). Scion S was grafted onto rootstock S (S/S) and rootstock T (S/T), and scion T was grafted onto rootstock T (T/T) and rootstock S (T/S). A 35 mu M cadmium chloride (CdCl2) treatment was used for stress induction in a hydroponic system. Both shoot and root contributions to Cd responses were observed, and they varied in a genotype-and/or organ-dependent manner for nutrient concentrations, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and transporters gene expression. The findings overall provide evidence for the dominant role of the tolerant root-stock system in conferring reduced Cd uptake and accumulation. The lowest leaf Cd concentrations were observed in T/T (215.11 mu g g-1 DW) and S/T (235.61 mu g g-1 DW). Cadmium-induced decreases in leaf dry weight were observed only in T/S (-8.20%) and S/S (-13.89%), which also were the only graft combinations that showed decreases in chlorophyll content (-3.93% in T/S and-4.05% in S/S). Furthermore, the results show that reciprocal grafting is a fruitful approach for gaining insights into the organ-specific modulation of Cd tolerance and accumulation during the early stages of Cd exposure. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/12666-7 - Tissue-specific modulation of the proteome, phytoquelatin synthesis, and activity of antioxidant enzymes of tomato in response to Cd, by using reciprocal grafting
• Grantee: Deyvid Novaes Marques
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 22/11018-7 - Metabolomics for cadmium stress response: focus on grafted tomato plants
• Grantee: Deyvid Novaes Marques
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 17/05544-0 - Study of the cadmium uptake kinetics and accumulation in tomato cultivars
• Grantee: Deyvid Novaes Marques
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/20706-9 - Identification of key proteins in cadmium tolerance: proteomic analysis of Cd tolerant and sensitive tomato cultivars, and reciprocally grafted plants
• Grantee: Deyvid Novaes Marques
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 21/06117-3 - Tomato enzymatic rouPAGEm and the tolerance mechanisms to cadmium-induced stress
• Grantee: Ricardo Antunes de Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/05788-3 - Characterization of Cd tolerance mechanisms in tomato roots using tolerant rootstocks
• Grantee: Katherine Derlene Batagin Piotto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/14349-3 - Cadmium transport and accumulation of different tomato genotypes: physiological, proteomic and molecular approaches.
• Grantee: Ricardo Antunes de Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants