Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Unravel Alfalfa's Response to Cadmium-Salt Stress and the Alleviating Role of Exogenous Salicylic Acid Application

Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Unravel Alfalfa's Response to Cadmium-Salt Stress and the Alleviating Role of Exogenous Salicylic Acid Application | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 29 December 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Unravel Alfalfa's Response to Cadmium-Salt Stress and the Alleviating Role of Exogenous Salicylic Acid Application Authors : Xu Yan , Jingwen Jiang , Zicheng Wang , Xi Long , Minghao Yang , Dingyu Jiang , Yuhang Bai , Caiqian Guan , and Xiujie Yin [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176698665.57981947/v1 117 views 45 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Soil co-contamination with cadmium (Cd) and salinity imposes combined stress on plants in China. This study screened 40 alfalfa varieties, identifying a Cd-tolerant (‘Concept’) and a Cd-sensitive (‘SR4030’) cultivar, to elucidate their adaptive responses. Under combined Cd-salt stress (100 μM CdCl 2 + 150 mM NaCl), SR4030 exhibited more severe growth inhibition (e.g., biomass reduction up to 25%) and cellular damage than Concept, indicating synergistic stress effects. The cultivars showed distinct ion profiles: Concept accumulated less Cd 2+ in shoots and had a lower translocation factor (TF) than SR4030. Salt stress increased shoot Cd 2+ TF by approximately 7-fold in both cultivars. Although antioxidant enzymes were activated, elevated ROS and MDA indicated oxidative damage, exacerbated under combined stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed 1,401 and 1,378 more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under combined stress in Concept at 12 h and 24 h, respectively, primarily enriched in plant hormone signaling and MAPK pathways. Concept specifically upregulated salicylic acid (SA)-related genes, whereas SR4030 downregulated jasmonic acid pathway genes. Heterologous expression confirmed MsCIPK enhanced yeast tolerance to both Cd and salt stress. Exogenous SA alleviated damage by reducing shoot Cd 2+ content (by nearly 50% in SR4030) and Na + accumulation, enhancing antioxidant activities, and regulating osmotic substances. These findings demonstrate the roles of MsCIPK and SA in mitigating combined stress, providing a theoretical basis for breeding tolerant alfalfa and managing co-contaminated soils. Supplementary Material File (manuscript.docx) Download 30.53 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 29 December 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords alfalfa cadmium stress hormones salt stress transcriptome Authors Affiliations Xu Yan Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Jingwen Jiang Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Zicheng Wang Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Xi Long Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Minghao Yang Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Dingyu Jiang Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Yuhang Bai Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Caiqian Guan Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Xiujie Yin [email protected] Northeast Agricultural University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 117 views 45 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Xu Yan, Jingwen Jiang, Zicheng Wang, et al. Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Unravel Alfalfa's Response to Cadmium-Salt Stress and the Alleviating Role of Exogenous Salicylic Acid Application. Authorea . 29 December 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176698665.57981947/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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