چکیده
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Zinc (Zn) deficiency hinders growth and development in tomato. This study unveils the responses of
how Zn starvation affects physiological and molecular processes in tomato. Zn deficiency negatively
affected the biomass, cellular integrity, and chlorophyll synthesis in tomato. Also, Zn deficiency
decreased the maximum yield of PSII, photosynthesis performance index and dissipation energy per
active reaction center, although the antenna size, trapping energy efficiency and electron transport
flux were stable in Zn-starved leaves. Further, Zn shortage caused a substantial reduction in Zn and Fe
concentrations in both roots and shoots along with decreased root Fe-reductase activity accompanied
by the downregulation of Fe-regulated transporter 1, Zn transporter-like (LOC100037509), and Zn
transporter (LOC101255999) genes predicted to be localized in the root plasma membrane. The
interactome partners of these Zn transporters are predominantly associated with root-specific metal
transporter, ferric-chelate reductase, BHLH transcriptional regulator, and Zn metal ion transporters,
suggesting that Zn homeostasis may be tightly linked to the Fe status along with BHLH transcription
factor in Zn-deficient tomato. We also noticed elevated O2
.− and H2O2
due to Zn deficiency which was
consistent with the inefficient antioxidant properties. These findings will be useful in the downstream
approach to improve vegetable crops sensitive to Zn-deficiency.
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