Impact of Cd and Pb on the photosynthetic and antioxidant systems of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni as revealed by physiological and transcriptomic analyses.

Key message: Cd induces photosynthetic inhibition and oxidative stress damage in H. citrina, which mobilizes the antioxidant system and regulates the expression of corresponding genes to adapt to Cd and Pb stress. Cd and Pb are heavy metals that cause severe pollution and are highly hazardous to organisms. Physiological measurements and transcriptomic analysis were combined to investigate the effect of 5 mM Cd or Pb on Hemerocallis citrina Baroni. Cd significantly inhibited H. citrina growth, while Pb had a minimal impact. Both Cd and Pb suppressed the expression levels of key chlorophyll synthesis genes, resulting in decreased chlorophyll content. At the same time, Cd accelerated chlorophyll degradation. It reduced the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) II, damaging the oxygen-evolving complex and leading to thylakoid dissociation. In contrast, no such phenomena were observed under Pb stress. Cd also inhibited the Calvin cycle by down-regulating the expression of Rubisco and SBPase genes, ultimately disrupting the photosynthetic process. Cd impacted the light reaction processes by damaging the antenna proteins, PS II and PS I activities, and electron transfer rate, while the impact of Pb was weaker. Cd significantly increased reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde accumulation, and inhibited the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the expression levels of the corresponding genes. However, H. citrina adapted to Pb stress by the recruitment of antioxidant enzymes and the up-regulation of their corresponding genes. In summary, Cd and Pb inhibited chlorophyll synthesis and hindered the light capture and electron transfer processes, with Cd exerting great toxicity than Pb. These results elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which H. citrina responds to Cd and Pb stress and provide a solid basis for the potential utilization of H. citrina in the greening of heavy metal-polluted lands.