Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule involved in regulating plant processes to cope with abiotic stress. S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) is known to induce NO synthesis in animals. However, it is unknown whether SAC can trigger NO biosynthesis, regulate Cd transport, or alleviate Cd stress in plants. After being sprayed with 0.2 mM SAC, rice seedlings had a NO content that was 1.8 times higher than that of the control (ctrl) group at the ninth hour, which then gradually decreased. The expressions of Cd uptake and transport genes in the roots (including OsNRAMP5, OsNRAMP1, and OsHMA2) were markedly downregulated by 27.2%, 24.8%, and 49.1%, respectively, 72 h after SAC spraying treatment. The Cd content in seedling roots' cell wall (CW) components significantly increased by 43.5% compared to that of the ctrl group. The Cd content in the shoots and roots decreased by 49.0% and 29.8%, respectively. Cd stress in the seedlings was also substantially alleviated. In conclusion, spraying rice seedlings with SAC triggered an increase in NO synthesis, regulated the expression of genes related to Cd transport, increased Cd fixation in the root CW components, and reduced Cd accumulation in the roots and shoots.
Keywords: S-allyl-L-cysteine; cadmium; nitric oxide; rice; transport.