CSLF6 Mediates Cadmium Accumulation in Rice by Modulating Cellulose Synthesis

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) pollution severely limits rice growth and yield. The plant cell wall acts as the first barrier against Cd, but how cell wall biosynthesis affects Cd accumulation is unclear. This study found that CSLF6, a cellulose synthase-like F, is involved in cellulose synthesis and Cd accumulation. Cd treatment strongly induced CSLF6 expression in roots. Under Cd stress, cell wall thickness and cellulose content were increased by CSLF6 overexpression and decreased when CSLF6 was mutated. CSLF6 overexpression enhanced Cd tolerance, with higher Cd accumulation in roots and shoots. In contrast, mutated CSLF6 decreased Cd resistance and accumulation, and Cd was 27.22–28.59% lower in grains compared to the wild type. Moreover, CSLF6 overexpression regulated the expression of genes related to Cd uptake and cell wall biosynthesis. These results indicated that CSLF6 influenced Cd tolerance and accumulation by modulating cellulose content, providing a useful reference for the genetic improvement of low-Cd rice.