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Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Two-Dimensional Visualization and Quantification of Labile, Inorganic Plant Nutrients and Contaminants in Soil
Published on: September 1, 2020
The root iron transporter 1 governs cadmium uptake in Vicia sativa roots
Xingxing Zhang1, Xin Li2, Ling Tang2
1College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Pesticide & Fertilizer, Guangdong Bioengineering Institute (Guangzhou Sugarcane Industry Research Institute), Guangzhou, 510316, China.
Abstract:
Cadmium is a non-essential element for plants and that inhibits plant growth and development. The Zhangye Mawan (ZM) variety of Vicia sativa is more sensitive to Cd toxicity than that Lanjian 3# (L3) variety, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that ZM showed higher Cd accumulation than L3 based on root Cd content and Cd fluorescence intensity in root protoplasts. VsRIT1, a member of the ZIP (ZRT/IRT-like protein) family, showed expression levels in ZM roots 8-fold higher than those in L3 roots under Cd exposure. VsRIT1 expression increased Cd transport and accumulation in Arabidopsis and yeast. These suggests that VsRIT1 participates in Cd uptake by V. sativa roots. Furthermore, ZM root tips have a higher capacity for transient Cd influx than L3 roots when exposed to Cd alone or Cd and iron (Fe) together, owing to the higher VsRIT1 expression in ZM. Our findings also imply that Cd may compete with Fe or/and zinc (Zn) for uptake via VsRIT1 in V. sativa or yeast.
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