Biography:

Gabriella Sferra is a Researcher in Botany at University of Molise with a wide experience in bioinformatics applied to plant research. Currently, her researches, under the National Biodiversity Future Center program (Funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4 - Call for tender No. 3138 of 16/12/2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18/12/2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU; Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17/06/2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP:H73C22000300001), focus on the characterization of the root system in urban environments specifically considering the links with abiotic/biotic stressors. (SCOPUS ID: 55928742800; ORCID: 0000-0001-6721-8547)

Abstract:
Cadmium (Cd) is among the world’s major health concerns, as it renders soils unsuitable and unsafe for food and feed production. Phytoremediation has the potential to remediate Cd-polluted soils, but efforts are still needed to develop a deep understanding of the processes underlying it. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the root response to Cd stress in A. thaliana, which can phytostabilize Cd, and in A. halleri, which is a Cd hyperaccumulator. Suitable RNA-seq data were analyzed by WGCNA to identify modules of co-expressed genes specifically associated with Cd presence. The results evidenced that the genes of the hyperaccumulator A. halleri mostly associated with the Cd presence are finely regulated (up- and downregulated) and related to a general response to chemical and other stimuli. Additionally, in the case of A. thaliana, which can phytostabilize metals, the genes upregulated during Cd stress are related to a general response to chemical and other stimuli, while downregulated genes are associated with functions which, affecting root growth and development, determine a deep modification of the organ both at the cellular and physiological levels. Furthermore, key genes of the Cd-associated modules were identified and confirmed by differentially expressed gene (DEG) detection and external knowledge. Together, key functions and genes shed light on differences and similarities among the strategies that the plants use to cope with Cd and may be considered as possible targets for future research.