The genotype-dependent developmental plasticity is positively associated with rice tolerance to inorganic arsenic
- 1Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
- 2Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
- 3Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy; Corresponding author.
Abstract
Rice is the most consumed cereal globally and a major dietary source of arsenic (As). This metalloid is ubiquitously found in soil in both inorganic (iAs) and organic forms. Its toxicity varies among rice genotypes. The response to iAs (As III and As V ) of Carnaroli genotype, internationally recognised for culinary and sensory properties, was investigated here and compared with the partially characterised Zhonghua 11 genotype. Seedlings were grown in vitro for 10 days in the presence of either 1 × 10 −4 M Na 2 HAsO 4 ∙7 H 2 O or 2.5 × 10 −5 M NaAsO 2 . Growth parameters, anatomical traits of leaves and roots, As levels in roots and shoots and root-to-shoot translocation collectively support that Carnaroli is more tolerant than Zhonghua to iAs. Unlike Zhonghua, Carnaroli retains the ability to produce lateral roots, including intrusive lateral roots developing within adventitious roots, and regular primordia with root cap cuticle composition facilitating protrusion . The Carnaroli developmental plasticity in response to iAs-stress is also supported by extensive root aerenchyma formation and leaf bulliform cell expansion. The expression of OsASA2 , OsPIN2 , OsAUX1 was enhanced in the root system and DR5::GUS signal was altered in root primordia of Zhonghua under iAs, supporting its higher metalloid sensitivity. Carnaroli retains iAs in roots at higher levels than Zhonghua and shows methylated As forms in the shoot. Seed-associated and vertically transmitted Cyanobacteriota, possibly responsible for As-methylation, were detected. Overall, the tolerance of Carnaroli appears to rely on a combination of developmental shoot and root plasticity and the beneficial As detoxification activity of the seed-associated microbiota.
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BibTeX
@article{lanni2026genotypedependent,
title = {{The genotype-dependent developmental plasticity is positively associated with rice tolerance to inorganic arsenic}},
author = {Francesca Lanni and Roberta Giorgione and Diego Piacentini and Marzia Beccaccioli and Simone D’Angeli and Maria Luisa Astolfi and Maria Maddalena Altamura and Giuseppina Falasca and Laura Fattorini},
journal = {Environmental and Experimental Botany},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106486},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106486},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The genotype-dependent developmental plasticity is positively associated with rice tolerance to inorganic arsenic
AU - Francesca Lanni
AU - Roberta Giorgione
AU - Diego Piacentini
AU - Marzia Beccaccioli
AU - Simone D’Angeli
AU - Maria Luisa Astolfi
AU - Maria Maddalena Altamura
AU - Giuseppina Falasca
AU - Laura Fattorini
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Environmental and Experimental Botany
DO - 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106486
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106486
AB - Rice is the most consumed cereal globally and a major dietary source of arsenic (As). This metalloid is ubiquitously found in soil in both inorganic (iAs) and organic forms. Its toxicity varies among rice genotypes. The response to iAs (As III and As V ) of Carnaroli genotype, internationally recognised for culinary and sensory properties, was investigated here and compared with the partially characterised Zhonghua 11 genotype. Seedlings were grown in vitro for 10 days in the presence of either 1 × 10 −4 M Na 2 HAsO 4 ∙7 H 2 O or 2.5 × 10 −5 M NaAsO 2 . Growth parameters, anatomical traits of leaves and roots, As levels in roots and shoots and root-to-shoot translocation collectively support that Carnaroli is more tolerant than Zhonghua to iAs. Unlike Zhonghua, Carnaroli retains the ability to produce lateral roots, including intrusive lateral roots developing within adventitious roots, and regular primordia with root cap cuticle composition facilitating protrusion . The Carnaroli developmental plasticity in response to iAs-stress is also supported by extensive root aerenchyma formation and leaf bulliform cell expansion. The expression of OsASA2 , OsPIN2 , OsAUX1 was enhanced in the root system and DR5::GUS signal was altered in root primordia of Zhonghua under iAs, supporting its higher metalloid sensitivity. Carnaroli retains iAs in roots at higher levels than Zhonghua and shows methylated As forms in the shoot. Seed-associated and vertically transmitted Cyanobacteriota, possibly responsible for As-methylation, were detected. Overall, the tolerance of Carnaroli appears to rely on a combination of developmental shoot and root plasticity and the beneficial As detoxification activity of the seed-associated microbiota.
SN - 1873-7307
ER -