Impact of Chromium Exposure on Potato Farming Systems and Plant Responses

Chromium (Cr) is a major source of heavy metal pollution, posing a significant threat to agricultural production. This study investigated the impact of chromium on potato farmland and explored integrated control strategies using the potato cultivar Dongnong 310 as the research subject. Transcriptomic and rhizosphere microbial metagenomic sequencing methods were employed. The main findings were as follows: (1) chromium stress downregulated genes encoding photosystem II, thereby inhibiting photosynthesis in potatoes. (2) Chromium stress altered the diversity of rhizosphere soil microorganisms, reduced the abundance of nitrous oxide reductase, and increased emissions of the greenhouse gas N₂O. (3) The rhizosphere microorganism Bacillus strain C5 and potato gene LOC102599109 exhibited chromium resistance. This study provides theoretical guidance for the integrated management of chromium pollution in potato farmland.