Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway Mediates Decabromodiphenyl Ethane (DBDPE) Tolerance by Modulating Photosynthesis and Oxidative Stress in Sugar Beet: Insights from Integrative Physiological and Multiomics Analyses

Decabromodiphenyl
ethane (DBDPE), an emerging ubiquitous
contaminant,
enters the food chain through crop bioaccumulation, threatening food
safety. This study investigated the bioaccumulation, toxicity, and
tolerance mechanisms of DBDPE in sugar beet. The results showed that
DBDPE was absorbed by roots and transported to leaves in a constant
proportion, with greater toxicity in leaves than in roots. Physiological
analyses revealed that DBDPE induced chloroplastic dysfunction and
oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. The antioxidant
system in response to DBDPE varied with exposure levels. Integrated
transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses revealed that
remodeling of jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and consequent activation
of JA signaling were critical for DBDPE tolerance. Exogenous JA and
JA-Ile (active JA) maintained photosynthetic activity by protecting
chloroplasts and mitigated oxidative damage by enhancing antioxidant
system activity, thereby improving DBDPE tolerance. This study provides
an insight into the development of effective mitigation strategies
against DBDPE toxicity in crops.