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The Influence of pH on Cadmium Accumulation in Seedlings of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

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Abstract

The growth, development, and quality of rice are inhibited by the presence of cadmium (Cd) in the soil, the uptake of which depends strongly on the pH of the growth medium. Here, a hydroponics-based experiment was conducted to characterize the relationship between Cd accumulation and the pH of the medium in seedlings of the two cultivars, Zhonjiazao17 (ZJZ17) and Xiangzhengyu (XZY). The uptakes of Cd by the roots of both cultivars and its translocation to the shoots were the highest from a medium of pH 6.0. XZY plants accumulated more Cd than ZJZ17 ones. Transcription profiling indicated that the genes, OsNRAMP1 and OsHMA2, were actively involved in Cd uptake and transport, as they were both strongly upregulated at pH 6.0. Both the Cd concentration of the medium and its pH exerted significant effects on the seedling growth. At pH 6.0, zinc was efficiently transported, but the translocation of iron was suppressed in shoot. The genes, OsZIP5 and OsYSL15, are the most likely responsible for the uptake and translocation of both these elements in rice seedlings.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFD0100300; 2016YFD0101801), Agricultural Sciences and Technologies Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and by the Central Level, Non-Profit, Scientific Research Institutes Basic R & D Operations Special Fund (Y2017PT46; 2017RG002-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, 310006, China

    Umed Ali, Min Zhong, Tahmina Shar, Sajid Fiaz, Lihong Xie, Guiai Jiao, Shakeel Ahmad, Zhonghua Sheng, Shaoqing Tang, Xiangjin Wei & Peisong Hu

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  1. Umed Ali
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  2. Min Zhong
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  3. Tahmina Shar
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  4. Sajid Fiaz
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  5. Lihong Xie
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  6. Guiai Jiao
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  7. Shakeel Ahmad
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  8. Zhonghua Sheng
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  9. Shaoqing Tang
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  10. Xiangjin Wei
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  11. Peisong Hu
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Contributions

PH, XW, and ST conceived and designed experiment. UA performed the experiment. MZ, TS, and LX helped in hydroponics-based solution preparation and metal determination. MZ, TS, and SF helped RNA extraction. SA made the graphs and figures. UA, ZS, XW, and GJ analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript which was critically revised by PH and XW, All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xiangjin Wei or Peisong Hu.

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Ali, U., Zhong, M., Shar, T. et al. The Influence of pH on Cadmium Accumulation in Seedlings of Rice (Oryza sativa L.). J Plant Growth Regul 39, 930–940 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-019-10034-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-019-10034-x

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