Work

Morphological, physiological, element absorption, and transcriptomic analysis reveals the mechanism of 2-(3,4-Dichlorophenoxy) trimethylamine alleviating copper stress in cucumber seedlings

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Copper (Cu) pollution resulting from human activities has emerged as a prominent issue stemming from industrial development. The entry of copper into the soil, either directly or through industrial wastewater, exerts adverse effects on plant growth, leading to its accumulation in significant quantities within the plant and subsequent endangerment of human health through the food chain. DCPTA [2-(3, 4-dichlorophenoxy) triethylamine] mitigates certain abiotic stresses, yet the precise mechanism by which it alleviates Cu-induced phytotoxicity remains unknown. This study has demonstrated that DCPTA reduces the impact of copper stress on plants by enhancing leaf pigment and photosynthesis, regulating root growth, and balancing the antioxidant system. Furthermore, the accumulation of Cu in leaves and roots of cucumber treated with DCPTA was significantly lower than that in seedlings treated with Cu alone. Transcriptome analysis showed that copper absorption, transport, detoxification genes, cell wall component related genes and nitrogen metabolism related genes played a crucial role. In conclusion, exogenous application of DCPTA can partially alleviate copper stress in cucumber. • DCPTA protected photosynthetic pigments, improved leaf photosynthetic capacity and promoted cucumber growth under Cu stress. • DCPTA modified root architecture and reduced the accumulation of Cu in cucumber leaves and roots. • DCPTA reduced the Cu-induced oxidative damage by regulating the antioxidant enzymes in cucumber seedlings. • The response of DCPTA to cucumber seedlings under Cu stress was different from that without Cu stress.

Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117574