Transcriptome profiles of leaves and roots of Brassica napus L. in response to antimony stress

Abstract Antimony (Sb), a non-essential heavy metal, exerts severe toxic effects on the growth and development of plants. This study investigated the response of Brassica napus to 75 mg/L Sb(III) stress under hydroponic conditions, focusing on Sb accumulation, physiological indexes, and transcriptome sequencing. Sb accumulation in six B. napus varieties ranged from 199.73 to 561.42 mg/kg. Enzymatic activities (SOD, POD, CAT) and MDA content showed initial increases followed by declines under varying Sb treatments. Transcriptomic analysis identified 8,802 genes in root tissues and 13,612 genes in leaf tissues responsive to Sb stress, predominantly involved in oxidative stress responses, glutathione metabolism, plant hormone signaling, ABC transporters, and MAPK pathways. Upregulation of antioxidant-related genes like GPX2, APX2, PER34, and GSTU4 in root tissues correlated with physiological index changes, while photosynthesis-related genes were largely downregulated in leaf tissues. This study provides crucial insights into B. napus's response mechanisms to Sb stress and highlights its potential for phytoremediation efforts.