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Background and aims <p>Alkaline soil cadmium (Cd) contamination in wheat fields seriously threatens grain safety. While the soil microbiome shows both positive and negative influences on Cd accumulation in wheat. This study aims to verify the feasibility of harnessing native soil microbes for reducing Cd uptake and improving grain quality.</p> Methods <p>This research constructed a pot experiment under rhizosphere microbiome engineering (via benomyl application or fungus <i>Rhizopus</i>, <i>Alternaria</i> inoculation) versus native microbiota in weakly alkaline Cd-contaminated soil (1.63&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg<sup>−1</sup>) to systematically examine Cd, aflatoxin accumulation, and nutritional profiles in wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.).</p> Results <p>Soil application of fungicide benomyl (50&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg⁻<sup>1</sup>) or seed born Cd resistant fungus <i>Alternaria</i> (100 spores kg⁻<sup>1</sup>) most effectively improved the qualities of wheat grains with reduced Cd (31.7–33.0%) and aflatoxin (50.8–58.0%) contents, and enhanced concentrations of Ca, Fe, and Mn (8.3–21.7%). These engineering both enriched native soil non-toxigenic&#xa0;indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-producing <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> and&#xa0;<i>Sphingomonas</i>, boosting rhizospheric IAA accumulation by 15.7 to 23.6-fold. Then, elevated IAA triggered transcriptomic shifts in wheat, downregulating Cd transporters (<i>TaABCB11</i>,&#xa0;<i>TaLCT1</i>,&#xa0;<i>TaHMA2</i>) and upregulating vacuolar sequestration genes (<i>TaABCC9</i>,&#xa0;<i>TaHMA3</i>), thereby reducing root-to-shoot Cd translocation. Concurrently, enhanced phytohormone signaling improved pathogen resistance.</p> Conclusion <p>These findings highlight the activation of native plant beneficial soil microbes as a viable strategy to mitigate co-contamination and enhance grain safety in Cd-contaminated alkaline soils.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Reducing wheat grain Cd via harnessing indigenous microbiota in weakly alkaline soil

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月12日

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  • Chenghao Ge,
  • Yixuan Wang,
  • Wenyan Ma,
  • Hong-Bo Li,
  • Jingxia Guo,
  • Hafiz Adeel Ahmad,
  • Yan Gao,
  • Dongmei Zhou

摘要

Background and aims

Alkaline soil cadmium (Cd) contamination in wheat fields seriously threatens grain safety. While the soil microbiome shows both positive and negative influences on Cd accumulation in wheat. This study aims to verify the feasibility of harnessing native soil microbes for reducing Cd uptake and improving grain quality.

Methods

This research constructed a pot experiment under rhizosphere microbiome engineering (via benomyl application or fungus Rhizopus, Alternaria inoculation) versus native microbiota in weakly alkaline Cd-contaminated soil (1.63 mg kg−1) to systematically examine Cd, aflatoxin accumulation, and nutritional profiles in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Results

Soil application of fungicide benomyl (50 mg kg⁻1) or seed born Cd resistant fungus Alternaria (100 spores kg⁻1) most effectively improved the qualities of wheat grains with reduced Cd (31.7–33.0%) and aflatoxin (50.8–58.0%) contents, and enhanced concentrations of Ca, Fe, and Mn (8.3–21.7%). These engineering both enriched native soil non-toxigenic indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-producing Aspergillus flavus and Sphingomonas, boosting rhizospheric IAA accumulation by 15.7 to 23.6-fold. Then, elevated IAA triggered transcriptomic shifts in wheat, downregulating Cd transporters (TaABCB11, TaLCT1, TaHMA2) and upregulating vacuolar sequestration genes (TaABCC9, TaHMA3), thereby reducing root-to-shoot Cd translocation. Concurrently, enhanced phytohormone signaling improved pathogen resistance.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the activation of native plant beneficial soil microbes as a viable strategy to mitigate co-contamination and enhance grain safety in Cd-contaminated alkaline soils.

Graphical Abstract