Gene expression and morphological responses of Lolium perenne L. exposed to cadmium (Cd2+) and mercury (Hg2+)

Abstract

Soil contamination with heavy metals is a major problem worldwide, due to the increasing impact mainly caused by anthropogenic activities. This research evaluated the phytoremediation capacity of, Lolium perenne for heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd2+) and mercury (Hg2+), and the effects of these metals on morphology, biomass production, and the changes on gene expression. Seeds of L. perenne were exposed to six concentrations of Cd2+ and Hg2+ in the range of 0 to 25 mg L−1, and two mixtures of Cd2+–Hg2. The Non-Observed Effect Level (NOEL) was established with dose response curves and the expression of specific genes was evaluated applying a commercially available quantitative reverse transcription (RT-qPCR) assay. There was no significant effect when exposing the seeds to Hg2+, for Cd2+ the maximum concentration was established in 0.1 mg L−1, and for the two concentrations of mixtures, there was a negative effect. An increase of expression of genes that regulate antioxidant activity and stress was found when the plant was exposed to heavy metals. Given the high tolerance to metals analyzed that was reflected both, the development of the plant and in its molecular response, these results highlight that L. perenne is a plant with phytoremediator potential.

Exogenous Cysteine Improves Mercury Uptake and Tolerance in Arabidopsis by Regulating the Expression of Heavy Metal Chelators and Antioxidative Enzymes

“…Previous studies have reported that the activities and expression levels of enzymatic antioxidants were regulated differently between roots and shoots in response to Hg stress (Zhou et al, 2007(Zhou et al, , 2008Sobrino-Plata et al, 2009;Manikandan et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2015;Cruz et al, 2021). In this study, different patterns of modulation of the antioxidative enzymes were also found between the roots and shoots in the presence of Hg or Hg + Cys (Table 1).…”

Changes in Lolium perenne L. rhizosphere microbiome during phytoremediation of Cd- and Hg-contaminated soils

“…Among these processes is phytoextraction, which is considered a commercial phytoremediation method with greater projection in the coming years (Zhao et al 2019). Studies on the remediation of metals such as Hg and Cd have focused on removal processes of these from plants (Cruz et al 2021(Cruz et al , 2019Leudo et al 2020). L. perenne (ryegrass) is a grass native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa and is now widely distributed throughout the world, including the Americas and Australia.…”

“…L. perenne (ryegrass) is a grass native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa and is now widely distributed throughout the world, including the Americas and Australia. This plant has been extensively studied due to its great response to abiotic stress exposure of metals such as Hg and Cd (Cruz et al 2021). Some authors have verified its phytoremediation capacity of heavy metals individually of Cd and Hg (Cruz et al 2021(Cruz et al , 2019.…”

“…This plant has been extensively studied due to its great response to abiotic stress exposure of metals such as Hg and Cd (Cruz et al 2021). Some authors have verified its phytoremediation capacity of heavy metals individually of Cd and Hg (Cruz et al 2021(Cruz et al , 2019. On the other hand, studies have also been carried out in which this plant is placed in symbiosis with mycorrhizae, finding promising results in the elimination of Hg in soils (Leudo et al 2020).…”

Análisis de tendencias en la recuperación de suelos empleando vigilancia tecnológica

“…Encontraron que Lolium perenne cuenta con mecanismos que la hacen tolerante a la acumulación del contaminante. Se estableció una concentración máxima de 0.1 mg L -1 relacionada al crecimiento de las semillas, a esta concentración se evidencian cambios en la expresión genética relacionados a la respuesta al estrés causado por los metales [17].…”