Boron-Mediated Inhibition of Cadmium Uptake in Crops: Mechanisms of Apoplastic Barrier Reinforcement and Transmembrane Transport Regulation

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination pose a serious threat to global food safety. Boron (B) application effectively reduces Cd accumulation in crops via a dual defense mechanism. This review synthesizes the mechanisms of apoplastic barrier reinforcement and transmembrane transport regulation in plants. B promotes pectin biosynthesis, cross-linking and demethylation of the cell wall to immobilize more Cd2+. It also stimulates the deposition of lignin in the Casparian strip, physically blocking Cd2+ entry into the stele of rice, hot pepper and rape. Additionally, B acts as a transcriptional regulator to downregulate influx transporters (e.g., NRAMP1, IRT1) located at the plasma membrane. Consequently, the expression…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 42577160
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province

  Award: 2025JJ50189