Nitric Oxide Is Associated With Long-Term Zinc Tolerance In Solanum Nigrum

    September 2010 in “ PLANT PHYSIOLOGY ”
    Jin Xu, Houfa Yin, Yulong Li, Xiaojing Liu
    TLDR Nitric oxide helps Solanum nigrum adapt to long-term zinc toxicity by changing root growth and metal balance.
    The study investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in zinc (Zn) tolerance in Solanum nigrum. It found that Zn-induced NO production increased reactive oxygen species in roots, leading to programmed cell death (PCD) in primary root tips. Inhibiting NO prevented this increase and subsequent cell death, indicating NO's role in Zn-induced PCD. NO production affected root length, lateral roots, and root hair growth, thus modulating root system architecture. The study concluded that NO production and PCD in root tips help S. nigrum adapt to long-term Zn toxicity by adjusting root system architecture and metal homeostasis.
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