Zn tolerance in the evergreen shrub, Aucuba japonica, naturally growing at a mine site: Cell wall immobilization, aucubin production, and Zn adsorption on fungal mycelia release_gtzegkfzxfcofblzv6x6toxttq

by Kohei Doyama, Keiko Yamaji, Toshikatsu Haruma, Atsushi Ishida, Shigeta Mori, Yoko Kurosawa

Published in PLoS ONE by Public Library of Science (PLoS).

2021   Volume 16, Issue 9, e0257690

Abstract

<jats:italic>Aucuba japonica</jats:italic> Thunb. is an evergreen understory shrub that grows naturally at a mine site. The mine soil contains high concentrations of heavy metals, and <jats:italic>A</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>japonica</jats:italic> appears to maintain detoxification mechanisms against heavy metals in the study site's understory. This study aimed to investigate the heavy metal tolerance mechanisms in <jats:italic>A</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>japonica</jats:italic>, considering the possible roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi. We conducted fieldwork in summer (canopy-foliation season) and winter (canopy-defoliation season) to measure the heavy metal concentrations in leaves, branches, and roots and analyze possible detoxicants in the roots. The infection rates of arbuscular mycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi were evaluated via microscopic observation, and heavy metal (Zn) localization in <jats:italic>A</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>japonica</jats:italic> roots was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Field analysis showed that <jats:italic>A</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>japonica</jats:italic> accumulated excessive Zn and produced aucubin and citric acid in the roots in both summer and winter. Zn localization observations clarified that Zn was distributed in thickened epidermal and cortical cell walls, suggesting that the cell walls functioned as Zn deposition sites, reducing Zn toxicity. It was further clarified that Zn was contained within cortical cells, indicating that Zn might be detoxified by aucubin and citric acid. Arbuscular mycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi within cortical cells adsorbed Zn on fungal cell walls, indicating that these fungi would reduce Zn content within root cells and might alleviate Zn toxicity. Our results indicated that <jats:italic>A</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>japonica</jats:italic> would maintain Zn tolerance in both summer and winter via Zn immobilization in the cell walls and production of aucubin and citric acid, and that arbuscular mycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi might play important roles in the Zn tolerance of <jats:italic>A</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>japonica</jats:italic>.
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