# Exogenous Nitric Oxide Promotes the Growth and Cadmium Accumulation of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Seedlings Under Cadmium Stress

## TL;DR

Exogenous nitric oxide helps alfalfa seedlings grow better and absorb more cadmium under stress.

## Contribution

This study shows that 200 µM nitric oxide optimally enhances alfalfa growth and cadmium accumulation under stress.

## Key findings

- Nitric oxide mitigates cadmium-induced membrane damage by boosting antioxidant enzyme activities.
- Exogenous nitric oxide increases soluble sugar content and seed photosynthate mobilization in alfalfa.
- 200 µM nitric oxide significantly improves alfalfa growth and cadmium accumulation under stress.

## Abstract

As an important bioactive signaling molecule, nitric oxide (NO) participates in the responses of plants to various environmental stresses. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of exogenous NO on the growth and cadmium (Cd) accumulation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) during early growth. The results showed that Cd significantly inhibited alfalfa seedling growth and induced membrane lipid peroxidation. Addition of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, as an NO donor) significantly promoted seedling growth and induced the mobilization of seed photosynthate reserves, leading to an increase in total soluble sugar (SS) and reducing sugar (RS) contents. Application of SNP mitigated membrane peroxidation damage caused by Cd stress by enhancing catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities in order to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby improving Cd resistance and increasing Cd accumulation in alfalfa. This promoting effect of SNP depended on its concentration; the most optimal SNP concentration to promote the growth and Cd absorption of alfalfa under Cd stress was found to be 200 µM. The fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW) and Cd accumulation of seedlings treated with 200 µM SNP increased significantly by 23.10%, 30.32% and 82.50%, respectively, on the fifth day, compared with the Cd-only treatment.