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Evaluating Leaf Responses to Microbial Secondary Metabolites Using A High-Throughput Format
Published on: December 5, 2025
Melatonin Receptor-Mediated Signaling and PGPR-Induced Secondary Metabolic Defense Dome Confer Cadmium Tolerance in
Tamanna Bhardwaj1, Renu Bhardwaj1,2, Nancy Sharma3
1Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Abstract:
Anthropogenic activities have increased cadmium (Cd) accumulation in agricultural soils, severely affecting crop productivity. This study investigated the role of melatonin (Mlt) and a Pseudomonas consortium (PGPR) in modulating secondary metabolism in Brassica juncea L. seedlings under Cd stress. Combined Mlt-PGPR treatment significantly reduced Cd accumulation and regulated the expression of genes involved in Cd transport and detoxification. Enhanced levels of osmolytes and organic acids were observed, along with upregulation of genes associated with osmoprotection and metal chelation. Antioxidant defense was experimentally assessed through enzymatic and non-enzymatic analyses, confirming improved redox homeostasis. FTIR spectroscopy supported treatment-induced biochemical alterations. Transcriptomic profiling revealed activation of melatonin biosynthesis genes and secondary metabolism-related pathways. A structural model of BjCand2, a putative melatonin receptor, and docking analysis suggested its involvement in signaling regulation. Overall, Mlt-PGPR application mitigates Cd toxicity through coordinated receptor-mediated signaling and metabolic reprogramming.
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