Effect of Phosphorus on the Cadmium Transfer and ROS-scavenging Capacity of Rice Seedlings

Environmental toxicity due to cadmium (Cd) pollution in croplands causes critical problems worldwide. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important crop in Asia, including South Korea, and numerous studies have evaluated the relationship between Cd and antioxidants to alleviate Cd uptake from the soil into plants. However, information about the relationship between phosphorus (P) and antioxidants in rice seedlings is still limited with regard to Cd phytotoxicity. We therefore investigated the physiological responses of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv 'Dongjin') seedlings to Cd toxicity and the effect of P application on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant changes. The exposure of rice seedlings to $30{\mu}M$ Cd inhibited plant growth; increased the contents of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde; and induced Cd uptake by the roots and leaves. Application of P to Cd-exposed seedlings decreased Cd-induced oxidative stress by enhancing the capacity of ascorbate (AsA) production and ROS-scavenging, and decreased Cd transfer from the roots to the leaves. These results suggest that P application alleviated Cd-induced growth inhibition and oxidative damage by restricting Cd translocation from the roots to the leaves and maintaining sufficient levels of AsA.