Cadmium (Cd) pollution in soil threatens food safety and human health.
Understanding wheat's response to Cd stress is crucial for mitigating risks.
Purpose of the Study:
To investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms of wheat in response to Cd stress.
To compare high- and low-Cd-accumulating wheat varieties.
Main Methods:
Proteomics and weighted gene co-expression network analysis.
Physiological and biochemical analyses of wheat varieties ZM32 (high-Cd) and JM22 (low-Cd).
Main Results:
High-Cd wheat (ZM32) showed higher Cd and sulfhydryl substance content, and antioxidant enzyme activity, but lower biomass.
Low-Cd wheat (JM22) exhibited up-regulation of specific enzymes and proteins involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation, benzoxazine biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism.
Candidate genes (CFC21_021767, CFC21_050069, CFC21_026131) associated with Cd resistance were identified.
Conclusions:
Differences in gene regulatory networks exist between high- and low-Cd-accumulating wheat under Cd stress.
Identified proteins can be targets for genetic improvement to reduce Cd uptake in wheat.
Findings contribute to developing strategies for safer wheat production in Cd-contaminated environments.
