Using proteomic approaches to predict particulate matter stress response of ornamental plant

Previous studies reported that plants’ exposure to particulate matter (PM) may decrease the PM phytoremediation efficiency. This study aims to investigate the effect of PM on plants at the proteomic level. Here, five plant species were fumigated with cigarette PM (the initial PM_2.5 of 470–500 µg/m³) in a 15.6 L testing chamber for 6 days. PM removal efficiency and absorption were evaluated for protein pattern between plants exposed and non-exposure to PM for 24 h. The results showed that Z. zamiifolia and S. trifasciata can effectively remove indoor PM (35–40 μg/m³). Also, several plant proteins (heat shock, aconitate hydratase 3, chaperone protein, NADP-dependent malic enzyme, probably aquaporin TIP2-2, serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2, ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease FTSH 8, V-type proton ATPase subunit B2, malate dehydrogenase, peptidyl-prolyl cis–trans isomerase, CYP38, peroxiredoxin-2E, and histone) reported significantly upregulated and downregulated about 100 times after PM exposure than control. Proteins related to water accumulation and H₂O₂ scavenging significantly changed (p value < 0.05) after PM exposure. PM concentration was found low (< 0.5 mg/m²) on the leaf surface after 150 h exposure. Herein, water accumulation and H₂O₂ scavenging protein might play an important role in plant PM stress.