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Roles of rhizosphere and root-derived organic acids in Cd accumulation by two hot pepper cultivars

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Abstract

Cultivars of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) have different abilities to accumulate Cd in their fruits. Previously, we suggested that low-Cd cultivars take up more Cd, but can better prevent the Cd translocation from roots to aerial parts. However, the mechanisms involved in those processes are still unclear. In this study, we explored the roles of rhizosphere soil Cd fractions and root secretions of low molecular weight organic acids in the uptake, translocation, and accumulation of Cd in a low-Cd and high-Cd cultivar. The results showed that there was no significant difference in exchangeable Cd between rhizosphere soils of the two cultivars, which might be related to their similar root’s Cd uptake ability. The total content of low molecular weight organic acids released from roots of the low-Cd cultivar was almost equal to that released from roots of the high-Cd cultivar at the same Cd level; however, the composition of low molecular weight organic acids were determined by cultivars and Cd exposure levels. In the higher Cd (10 μM) treatment, the roots of the low-Cd cultivar excreted significantly less tartaric acid and more oxalic and acetic acids than those of the high-Cd cultivar. Additionally, there was no difference in the concentration of citric or succinic acid between the two cultivars. These results indicate that some kinds of low molecular weight organic acids efflux from hot pepper roots played an important role in the difference of Cd accumulation between low- and high-Cd cultivars.

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Abbreviations

Cd:

Cadmium

LMWOAs:

Low molecular weight organic acids

YCT:

Yeshengchaotianjiao

JFZ:

Jinfuzaohuangjiao

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 41101303 and 41201320), Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 14JJ7082 and 2015JJ6026) and the China Scholarship Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Environmental Pollution Control Technology, Department of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Hunan Institute of Technology, Hengyang, 421002, China

    Junliang Xin, Baifei Huang, Hongwen Dai, Wenjing Zhou, Yumei Yi & Lijing Peng

  2. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3102, USA

    Junliang Xin & Baifei Huang

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  1. Junliang Xin
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  2. Baifei Huang
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  3. Hongwen Dai
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  4. Wenjing Zhou
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  5. Yumei Yi
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  6. Lijing Peng
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Correspondence to Baifei Huang.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Xin, J., Huang, B., Dai, H. et al. Roles of rhizosphere and root-derived organic acids in Cd accumulation by two hot pepper cultivars. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 6254–6261 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3854-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3854-z

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