Publication
Title
Molecular mechanisms and physiological responses of rice leaves co-exposed to submicron-plastics and cadmium : implication for food quality and security
Author
Abstract
The effects of co-exposure to aged submicron particles (aSMPs) and Cd as model contaminants on rice leaves via the foliar route were investigated. Thirty-day-old rice seedlings grown in soil were exposed to Cd (nitrate) through foliar spraying at concentrations of 1, 10, 50, 100, and 500 μM, with or without aSMP at a rate of 30 μg d−1. It was observed that Cd translocated from leaves to roots via stems even without co-exposure to SMP. Co-exposure can reduce cadmium levels in leaves. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis confirmed a significant reduction (29.3 − 77.9%) in Cadmium accumulation in the leaves of rice plants during co-exposure. Exposure to Cd resulted in physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic changes in rice leaves, disrupting 28 metabolism pathways, and impacting crop yield and quality. Exposure to both Cd and aSMPs can interfere with the Cd distribution in plants. Rice leaves exposed solely to Cd exhibit higher toxicity and Cd accumulation, compared to those co-exposed to Cd and aSMPs. The accumulation of Cd in plant leaves is enhanced with aSMPs, which may lead to more pronounced gene expression regulation and changes in metabolic pathways, compared to Cd exposure. Our study found that the independent Cd exposure group had higher Cd accumulation and toxicity in rice leaves compared to the combined exposure of Cd and aSMPs. We hypothesize that aged negatively charged SMPs can capture Cd and reduce its exposure in the free state while jointly inhibiting Cd-induced oxidative and chloroplast damage, thereby reducing the potential risk of Cd exposure in rice plants.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of hazardous materials. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2023
ISSN
0304-3894
DOI
10.1016/J.JHAZMAT.2023.132957
Volume/pages
463 (2024) , p. 1-11
Article Reference
132957
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
The author-created version that incorporates referee comments and is the accepted for publication version Available from 08.05.2024
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
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Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
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Creation 09.11.2023
Last edited 14.11.2023
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