Iron uptake system mediates nitrate-facilitated cadmium accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants

J Exp Bot. 2012 May;63(8):3127-36. doi: 10.1093/jxb/ers036. Epub 2012 Feb 29.

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) management is a promising agronomic strategy to minimize cadmium (Cd) contamination in crops. However, it is unclear how N affects Cd uptake by plants. Wild-type and iron uptake-inefficient tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant (T3238fer) plants were grown in pH-buffered hydroponic culture to investigate the direct effect of N-form on Cd uptake. Wild-type plants fed NO₃⁻ accumulated more Cd than plants fed NH₄⁺. Iron uptake and LeIRT1 expression in roots were also greater in plants fed NO₃⁻. However, in mutant T3238fer which loses FER function, LeIRT1 expression in roots was almost completely terminated, and the difference between NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ treatments vanished. As a result, the N-form had no effect on Cd uptake in this mutant. Furthermore, suppression of LeIRT1 expression by NO synthesis inhibition with either tungstate or L-NAME, also substantially inhibited Cd uptake in roots, and the difference between N-form treatments was diminished. Considering all of these findings, it was concluded that the up-regulation of the Fe uptake system was responsible for NO₃⁻-facilitated Cd accumulation in plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomass
  • Cadmium / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Genes, Plant
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nitrates / pharmacology*
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Nitrogen / pharmacology
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Solanum lycopersicum / drug effects*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / genetics
  • Solanum lycopersicum / growth & development
  • Solanum lycopersicum / metabolism*

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • Plant Proteins
  • Cadmium
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Iron
  • Nitrogen