Article

Molybdenum Supply Alleviates the Cadmium Toxicity in Fragrant Rice by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Gene Expression

Muhammad ImranGuangzhou Key Laboratory for Science and Technology of Fragrant Rice, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaSaddam HussainDepartment of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Punjab, PakistanMohamed A. El‐EsawiBotany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, EgyptMuhammad Shoaib RanaKey Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMuhammad Hamzah SaleemCollege of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaMuhammad RiazRoot Biology Center, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaUmair AshrafDepartment of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore 54770, Punjab, PakistanMouloumdema Pouwedeou PotchoGuangzhou Key Laboratory for Science and Technology of Fragrant Rice, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaMeiyang DuanGuangzhou Key Laboratory for Science and Technology of Fragrant Rice, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaImran Ali RajputPakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Arid Zone Research Institute, Umerkot 69100, Sindh, PakistanXiangru TangGuangzhou Key Laboratory for Science and Technology of Fragrant Rice, Guangzhou 510642, China

2020en

ABI

Abstract

Increasing evidence shows that cadmium (Cd) toxicity causes severe perturbations on growth performance, physio-biochemical and molecular processes in crop plants. Molybdenum (Mo), an essential trace element, plays key roles in oxidative stress tolerance of higher plants. Hence, the present study has been conducted to investigate the possible role of Mo in alleviating Cd-induced inhibitions in two fragrant rice cultivars namely Guixiangzhan (GXZ) and Meixiangzhan-2 (MXZ-2). The results revealed that Mo application enhanced the plant dry biomass by 73.24% in GXZ and 58.09% in MXZ-2 under Cd stress conditions, suggesting that Mo supplementation alleviated Cd-induced toxicity effects in fragrant rice. The enhanced Cd-tolerance in fragrant rice plants prompted by Mo application could be ascribed to its ability to regulate Cd uptake and reduce Cd-induced oxidative stress as evident by lower hydrogen peroxide levels, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde contents in Cd-stressed plants. The ameliorative role of Mo against Cd-toxicity also reflected through its protection to the photosynthetic pigments, proline and soluble protein. Mo also induced antioxidant defense systems via maintaining higher contents of glutathione and ascorbate as well as enhancing the ROS-detoxifying enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase activities and up-regulating transcript abundance in both fragrant rice cultivars under Cd stress. Conclusively, Mo-mediated modulation of Cd toxicity in fragrant rice was through restricting Cd uptake, maintaining photosynthetic performance and alleviating oxidative damages via the strong anti-oxidative defense systems; however, GXZ cultivar is comparatively more Cd tolerant and Mo-efficient as evident from the less growth inhibition and biomass reduction as well as enhanced Mo-induced Cd stress tolerance and less oxidative damage than MXZ-2 fragrant rice cultivar.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.3390/biom10111582

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