Open Access

REVIEW

Role of Nitric Oxide in Mitigating Cadmium Stress in Plants: Mechanisms and Perspectives

Mohammad Reza Boorboori^1,2, Haiyang Zhang^1,2,*

1 College of Environment and Surveying and Mapping Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, Anhui, China
2 Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control in Tuohe River Basin, Suzhou, Anhui, China

* Corresponding Author: Haiyang Zhang. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Regulators of Plant Growth and Environmental Stress Adaptation)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2026, 95(6), 1 https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2026.082409

Received 16 March 2026; Accepted 15 May 2026; Issue published 29 June 2026

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant released from various human activities including industrial production and agricultural practices. This pollutant adversely affects plant physiology by damaging root systems, inhibiting photosynthesis, and inducing oxidative stress through the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This review highlights the critical role of nitric oxide (NO) as a key signaling molecule that enhances plant tolerance to cadmium stress. The application of exogenous NO effectively alleviates Cd toxicity by stimulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), scavenging harmful ROS, and preventing membrane damage. Furthermore, NO improves nutrient absorption and photosynthetic efficiency under Cd stress. The review also explores the complex interactions between NO and other phytohormones, including auxin and brassinosteroids, especially in regulating root development under stressful conditions. Despite these protective effects, the review concludes that further investigations are needed to better understand the molecular mechanisms of NO signaling, its concentration-dependent responses, and its specific crosstalk with other plant signaling molecules.

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