Transporters and phytohormones analysis reveals differential regulation of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in response to cadmium and arsenic stresses.

Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) are two highly toxic heavy metals and metalloids that coexist in many situations posing severe threats to plants. Our investigation was conducted to explore the different regulatory mechanisms of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) responding to individual and combined Cd and As stresses in hydroponics. Results showed that the ryegrass well-growth phenotype was not affected by Cd stress of 10 mg·L-1. However, As of 10 mg·L-1 caused rapid water loss, proline surge, and chlorosis in shoots, suggesting that ryegrass was highly sensitive to As. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the transcription factor LpIRO2 mediated the upregulation of ZIP1 and YSL6 that played an important role in Cd tolerance. We found that the presence of As caused the overexpression of LpSWT12, a process potentially regulated by bHLH14, to mitigate hyperosmolarity. Indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents and expression of their signaling-related genes were significantly affected by As stress rather than Cd. We predict a regulatory network to illustrate the interaction between transporters, transcription factors, and signaling transduction, and explain the antagonism of Cd and As toxicity. This present work provides a research basis for plant protection from Cd and As pollution.

Jasmonic Acid-Treated Cotton Plant Leaves Impair Larvae Growth Performance, Activities of Detoxification Enzymes, and Insect Humoral Immunity of Cotton Bollworm.

Enhancement of plant defense by exogenous elicitors is a promising tool for integrated pest management strategy. In the present study, cotton plants were treated with different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mM) of the natural plant defense elicitor, jasmonic acid (JA), and defense-related indicators in the plants were then determined. The cotton bollworm larvae were fed with JA-treated cotton leaves and larvae performances were discussed in terms of larvae relative growth rate (RGR), larval duration, pupal mass, humoral immunity, and activities of a target enzyme, three detoxification enzymes and two metabolic enzymes. Research results showed that JA treatment increased the contents of gossypol and H2O2, and decreased that of the total soluble carbohydrates, and 0.1 mM JA was more powerful in the induction of defense-related parameters. As a consequence, cotton bollworm larvae reared on JA-treated cotton leaves showed slower RGR, prolonged larvae duration, and decreased pupal mass. In addition, when larvae were fed with JA-treated cotton leaves, activities of phenoloxidae (an indicator of humoral immunity) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE, a target enzyme), alkaline phosphatases (ALP), acidic phosphatase (ACP), and three detoxification enzymes, carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and cytochrome P450 (P450), were all reduced compared to the control. Taken together, the results suggest that JA can be an alternative agent for pest management by delaying insect growth and inhibiting immune defense and detoxification capacity of the cotton bollworm, which may reduce the use of synthetic pesticides.