Analysis of 2,4-epibrassinolide created an enhancement tolerance on Cd toxicity in Solanum nigrum L

Contamination of soils with cadmium (Cd) is a serious problem worldwide. Solanum nigrum L. is reported as a Cd hyperaccumulator, but its enrichment capacity is limited. 2,4-Epibrassinolide (2,4-EBL) plays important roles in plant response to various stresses. Little is known about its effect on Cd tolerance in S. nigrum. Current study was performed to demonstrate effects of 2,4-EBL on plant growth, photosynthesis activity, activities of antioxidants, and Cd concentration in plants by nutrient solution contaminated with Cd. Results revealed that S. nigrum exhibited toxicity to Cd stress, including reducing plant height, root length, and chlorophyll content and increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Exogenous application of 2,4-EBL significantly enhanced the contents of proline and soluble sugar and decreased the MDA content. Meanwhile, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) markedly increased compared with the control. Interesting, 2,4-EBL promoted photosynthesis by increasing the chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm. And increase in chlorophyll content is caused by increased expression of synthetic genes and decreased expression of degraded genes. 2,4-EBL also decreased accumulation of Cd in S. nigrum compared with single Cd stress. According to the present results, 2,4-EBL can effectively be used to alleviate the damage of Cd stress in S. nigrum and probably in other solanaceae.