Overexpression of FaHSP17.8-CII improves cadmium accumulation and tolerance in tall fescue shoots by promoting chloroplast stability and photosynthetic electron transfer of PSII

Genetic improvement could play a significant role in enhancing the Cd accumulation, translocation and tolerance in plants. In this study, for the first time, we constructed transgenic tall fescue overexpressing a class II (CII) sHSP gene FaHSP17.8-CII, which enhanced Cd tolerance and the root-to-shoot Cd translocation. After exposed to 400 μM CdCl2, two FaHSP17.8-CII overexpressing lines (OE#3 and OE#7) exhibited 30% and 40% more shoot fresh weight, respectively, relative to the wild-type (WT). Both transgenic lines showed higher tolerance to Cd, as evidenced by lower levels of electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde compared to the WT plants under Cd stress. FaHSP17.8-CII overexpression increased shoot Cd contents 49–59% over the WT plants. The Cd translocation factor of root-to-shoot in OE grasses was 69–85% greater than WT under Cd stress. Furthermore, overexpression of FaHSP17.8-CII reduced Cd-induced damages of chloroplast ultra-structure and chlorophyll synthesis, and then improved photosystem II (PSII) function under Cd stress, which resulted in less reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in OE grasses than that in WT exposed to Cd stress. The study suggests a novel FaHSP17.8-CII–PSII-ROS module to understand the mechanisms of Cd detoxification and tolerance, which provides a new strategy to improve phytoremediation efficiency in Cd-stressed grasses. [Display omitted] •Overexpressing FaHSP17.8-CII enhanced Cd tolerance.•Overexpressing FaHSP17.8-CII enhanced root-to-shoot Cd translocation in grasses.•Overexpression of FaHSP17.8-CII protects chloroplast ultra-structure in grasses.•FaHSP17.8-CII–PSII-ROS module provides a novel understanding of Cd detoxification.