Nitric oxide acts as an inducer of Strategy-I responses to increase Fe availability and mobilization in Fe-starved broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. oleracea).

Iron (Fe) deficiency causes reduced growth and yield in broccoli. This study elucidates how sodium nitroprusside (SNP), known as nitric oxide (NO) donor, mitigates the retardation caused by Fe deficiency in broccoli. The SNP caused substantial nitric oxide accumulation in the roots of Fe-deficient plants, which resulted in a significant improvement in chlorophyll levels, photosynthetic efficiency, and morphological growth parameters, showing that it has a favorable influence on recovering broccoli health. Ferric reductase activity and the expression of BoFRO1 (ferric chelate reductase) gene in roots were consistently increased by SNP under Fe deficiency, which likely resulted in increased Fe mobilization. Furthermore, proton (H ⁺ ) extrusion and BoHA2 (H ⁺ -ATPase 2) expression were significantly increased, suggesting that they may be involved in lowering rhizospheric pH to restore Fe mobilization in roots of bicarbonate-treated broccoli plants. The levels of Fe in root and shoot tissues and the expression of BoIRT1 (Fe-regulated transporter) both increased dramatically after SNP supplementation under Fe deprivation. Furthermore, SNP-induced increase in citrate and malate concentrations suggested a role of NO in improved Fe chelation in Fe-deficient broccoli. A NO scavenger (cPTIO) ceased the elevated FCR activity and IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) concentration in Fe-starved plants treated with SNP. These findings suggest that SNP may play a role in initiating Fe availability by elevated IAA concentration and BoEIR1 (auxin efflux carrier) expression in the roots of broccoli during Fe shortage. Therefore, SNP may improve Fe availability and mobilization by increasing Strategy-I Fe uptake pathways, which may help broccoli tolerate Fe deficiency.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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