Fig. 7.

Loss of function of plant defensin decreased Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis. a Identification of plant defensin mutants generated by CRISPR/Cas9. pdf2.3 represent mutants with single T insertion in plant defensin gene AtPDF2.3 coding region, pdf2.2 represent mutants with two base GT deletions in plant defensin gene AtPDF2.2 coding region, with Col-0 background. b Col-0, pdf2.3 and pdf2.2 seedlings grown in half-strength MS medium in the absence (top) or presence (bottom) of Cd for one week. Scale bars, 1 cm. c Root elongation was determined in plants grown under conditions in b. d Four weeks old plants grown in hydroponics were exposed to 10 μM Cd for 3 days. Cd concertation in Arabidopsis shoots and roots. Data are mean ± SD, n = 15 in c, or 5 in d. Significant differences were determined by Student’s t-test (**P < 0.01)