Cadmium (Cd) is one of the highly toxic heavy metals that restricts plant growth, affects crop yields, and triggers food crises. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is frequently used solvent in biological studies, and its potential application in resistance to Cd toxicity in plants and animals has not been reported. Here, low concentrations of DMSO alone were demonstrated to increase the biomass of pak choi seedlings; more importantly, under Cd stress conditions, DMSO was shown to reduce Cd accumulation, and thereby alleviate Cd-induced damages. Specifically, DMSO could enhance plant defense mechanisms against Cd stress by strengthening the activities of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymatic or non-enzymatic antioxidants, regulating the expression of key stress-responsive genes, as well as activating autophagy and apoptosis protection in root cells, thereby scavenging excessive ROS, restoring integration of cell membranes, and conferring tolerance to Cdinduced phytotoxicity. Our results showed that DMSO could play a vital role in mitigating Cd-induced oxidative damage by activating the protective mechanisms generated by the synergistic effects of both autophagy and antioxidants. These findings will help to formulate strategies to mitigate Cd contamination and to ensure the safety of cabbage production, an important vegetable source.

Salinity stress (NaCl) and heavy metals contamination (CdCl2) are the serious environmental constraints for decreased crop production worldwide. However, the interaction between NaCl and CdCl2 regarding sodium (Na), cadmium (Cd), and chloride (Cl) accumulation in plants has not been completely established. Therefore, the interactive effects of NaCl andCdCl2 on plant growth, Na, Cd, and Cl accumulation in plants, and wheat yield were evaluated. Wheat seeds were cultivated in clay loam soil under greenhouse conditions. After two weeks of sowing, plants were subjected to NaCl at the rate of 0, 50, and 100 mM either alone or in combination with CdCl2: 0, 1, and 2 mM, respectively. The results revealed that increasing NaCl and CdCl2 levels reduced Na and Cd concentrations, whereas enhanced Cl concentrations. Furthermore, moderate levels of CdCl2 and NaCl stresses enhanced the antioxidative enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in addition to proline accumulation in wheat leaves. By contrast, 100 mM NaCl in combination with 2 mM CdCl2 enhanced H2O2 accumulation by 105%, which thus decreased the membrane stability index (MSI) by 49% and wheat yield by 27% as compared to 2 mM CdCl2. The reduced Cd toxicity by NaCl or Na accumulation in plant tissues by CdCl2 involved competition between Na and Cd at binding sites, however, enhanced Cl phytotoxicity in plants resulted in the overproduction of H2O2 that was not quenched by antioxidative enzymes, thereby decreased MSI and wheat yield.

Heavy metal pollution is one of the most devastating abiotic factors, significantly damaging crops and human health. One of the serious problems it causes is a rise in cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Cd is a highly toxic metal with a negative biological role, and it enters plants via the soil-plant system. Cd stress induces a series of disorders in plants' morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes and initiates the inhibition of seed germination, ultimately resulting in reduced growth. Fiber crops such as kenaf, jute, hemp, cotton, and flax have high industrial importance and often face the issue of Cd toxicity. Various techniques have been introduced to counter the rising threats of Cd toxicity, including reducing Cd content in the soil, mitigating the effects of Cd stress, and genetic improvements in plant tolerance against this stress. For decades, plant breeders have been trying to develop Cd-tolerant fiber crops through the identification and transformation of novel genes. Still, the complex mechanism of Cd tolerance has hindered the progress of genetic breeding. These crops are ideal candidates for the phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Hence, increased Cd uptake, accumulation, and translocation in below-ground parts (roots) and above-ground parts (shoots, leaves, and stems) can help clean agricultural lands for safe use for food crops. Earlier studies indicated that reducing Cd uptake, detoxification, reducing the effects of Cd stress, and developing plant tolerance to these stresses through the identification of novel genes are fruitful approaches. This review aims to highlight the role of some conventional and molecular techniques in reducing the threats of Cd stress in some key fiber crops. Molecular techniques mainly involve QTL mapping and GWAS. However, more focus has been given to the use of transcriptome and TFs analysis to explore the potential genomic regions involved in Cd tolerance in these crops. This review will serve as a source of valuable genetic information on key fiber crops, allowing for further in-depth analyses of Cd tolerance to identify the critical genes for molecular breeding, like genetic engineering and CRISPR/Cas9.

Cd (cadmium) is a highly toxic heavy metal pollutant often present in soil and detrimentally impacting the production and quality of horticultural crops. Cd affects various physiological and biochemical processes in plants, including chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis, mineral uptake and accumulation, and hormonal imbalance, leading to cell death. The MYB family of transcription factors plays a significant role in plant response to environmental influences. However, the role of MYB116 in abiotic stress tolerance remains unclear. In this study, we reported that Chinese cabbage transcription factor BrMYB116 enhanced Cd stress tolerance in yeast. The expression level of BrMYB116 was increased by Cd stress in Chinese cabbage. Additionally, yeast cells overexpressing BrMYB116 showed improved Cd stress tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation. Moreover, we found that BrMYB116 interacted with facilitator of iron transport (FIT3) to enhance Cd stress tolerance. ChIP-qPCR results showed that ScFIT3 was activated through specific binding to its promoter. Additionally, the overexpression of ScFIT3 induced Cd stress tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation in yeast and Chinese cabbage. These results suggest new avenues for plant genomic modification to mitigate Cd toxicity and enhance the safety of vegetable production.

Background and aimsCadmium (Cd) contamination poses a potential threat to plant growth and human health. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on Cd and selenium (Se) uptake and accumulation in bok choy, and investigate the detoxification mechanism of SeNPs on bok choy under Cd stress.MethodsA pot culture was performed in Cd-contaminated soil with soil applied and foliar-sprayed SeNPs, including SLow, SHigh, FLow, FHigh, and corresponding control treatment. The soil available Cd content, Cd and Se fractions in soil, elements accumulation, subcellular Cd/Se distribution, MDA content, SOD activity, and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were evaluated.ResultsSoil applied SeNPs significantly reduced Cd concentration by 25.9-42.4%, and Cd uptake rate by 33.4-37.8%. Further, soil applied SeNPs had no significant effect on available Cd but did affect Se fractions in soil. Additionally, soil applied SeNPs increased Se concentration by 3.1 - 6.3 times in bok choy and caused a higher Se concentration in root than in shoot, with the residual and organic matter-bound Se mainly affecting Se accumulation in shoot. However, foliar-sprayed SeNPs had no significant effect on Cd uptake but increased Se accumulation by 2.4 - 33.0 times in bok choy. Soil applied and foliar-sprayed SeNPs prompted the distribution of Cd in cell wall and in soluble component in shoot, respectively, which reduced the damage of Cd on organelle.ConclusionSoil applied SeNPs was an effective method for reducing Cd accumulation and improving Se biofortification and mineral elements accumulation in bok choy.