AUTHOR=Sabella Erika , Aprile Alessio , Tenuzzo Bernadetta Anna , Carata Elisabetta , Panzarini Elisa , Luvisi Andrea , De Bellis Luigi , Vergine Marzia 

TITLE=Effects of Cadmium on Root Morpho-Physiology of Durum Wheat

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.936020

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.936020

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) can accumulate a high level of Cd in grains with a significant variability depending on cultivars. In this work, we investigated roots of durum wheat plants (cv. Iride) exposed to different Cd concentrations (0.5 and 5.0 µM) to identify the mechanisms involved in Cd management. The root morphology was altered by Cd treatment both at macroscopic (increased number of tips and primary root length) and ultrastructural levels (cell membrane system damaged, cell walls thickened and enriched in suberin). On the other side, Cd was localized in vesicles and in cell walls, and the metal colocalized with the phytosiderophore nicotianamine (NA). Overall, data suggest that Cd is chelated by NA and then compartmentalized, through vesicular trafficking, in the root thickened walls.