The protective role of MdATG10-mediated autophagy in apple plant under cadmium stress

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 234; p. 113398
• Main Authors: Huo, Liuqing, Guo, Zijian, Wang, Qi, Jia, Xin, Sun, Xuepeng, Ma, Fengwang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.04.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amino acid; ATG; Autophagy; Cd stress; ROS; Cd stress; Amino acid; ATG; Autophagy; ROS
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113398

Autophagy is a conserved degradation pathway in plants, which plays an important role in plant cellular homeostasis during abiotic stress. Although various abiotic stressors have been reported to induce autophagic activity in plants, the specific role of autophagy in plant cadmium (Cd) tolerance remains undiscovered. In this study, we treated three MdATG10-overexpressing apple lines with hydroponic Cd stress and found the enhanced Cd tolerance in transgenic plants. Transgenic apple plants exhibited less growth limitation and reduced Cd damage on the photosynthetic system. That was accompanied by higher antioxidant enzymes activity and lower harmful ROS accumulation in apple leaves under Cd stress. The higher autophagic activity led to a more active metabolic system of Pro, His, and Arg in transgenic plants under Cd stress, which was closely related to the plant Cd tolerance. In addition, the transcriptional activities of several Cd transport and detoxification-related genes were regulated by MdATG10-overexpression in response to Cd stress. This study is the first to demonstrate the protective role of autophagy in the Cd tolerance of plants. [Display omitted] •MdATG10-OE plants showed higher autophagic activity and enhanced Cd tolerance.•MdATG10-OE plants showed higher antioxidant enzymes activity and lower Cd damage.•MdATG10-OE plants showed higher Pro, His, and Arg levels in both roots and leaves.•MdATG10-OE plants showed reduced Cd accumulation.