Silicon enhances the tolerance of Poa annua to cadmium by inhibiting its absorption and oxidative stress

Silicon (Si) could enhance plant tolerance to heavy metals; however, the mechanism of Si-mediated alleviation of cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Poa annua was not clear. In this study, we found that 100 mu M Cd significantly inhibited the growth of Poa annua seedlings. Furthermore, Cd enhanced the H2O2 and malondialdehyde content. The activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase were enhanced, but the catalase and peroxidase activities were reduced by Cd treatment. Cd also altered the activity and expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in Poa annua roots. Application of Na3PO4, an inhibitor of G6PDH, decreased the activity of G6PDH, the expression of G6PDH, and increased the Cd toxicity, suggesting that G6PDH is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress induced by Cd. Application of 1 mM Si alleviated the inhibition of Cd on the growth of Poa annua seedlings. Si application not only led to reduced oxidative injuries but also decreased the accumulation of Cd in Poa annua seedlings under Cd stress. Furthermore, Si decreased the activity of G6PDH and the expression of G6PDH under Cd stress, which demonstrated that Si attenuates the Cd toxicity in Poa annua probably through decreasing the expression of G6PDH under Cd stress. When G6PDH was inhibited, the alleviation impact of Si on Cd stress was abolished. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the Cd tolerance in Poa annua enhanced by Si is mainly due to the decrease of Cd uptake in roots and lowering the oxidative stress induced by Cd.