Plant Soil Environ., 2026, 72(10):581-605 | DOI: 10.17221/336/2026-PSE

Root vitality and protein homeostasis determine divergent strategies against autotoxicity in cassava cultivarsOriginal Paper

Li Gan1, Guilong Li1, Xiao Han1, Liping Bei1, Xiaoxue Peng1, Xiaosu Fan1, Dan Lu1, Maogui Wei1
1 College of Agronomy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Agro-Products Safety, Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Physiology, Guangxi University, Nanning, P.R. China

Autotoxic stress can disturb cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) endogenous hormones, thus hindering plant growth and development. However, the mechanisms by which cassava responds to autotoxic stress are still unknown. Hydroxyacetone, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, and acetic acid, previously confirmed as the main autotoxins, were applied in this study to simulate autotoxic stress on cassava using a tissue culture approach. Three genotypes, SC205, NZ199, and XX048, were used as plant materials. The allelopathic effects varied with genotype. Under autotoxicity stress, XX048 showed stronger negative allelopathy than SC205 and NZ199, with root length and biomass significantly reduced. Under identical stress conditions, SC205 and XX048 yielded 696 and 545 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), respectively, which were functionally enriched in the catalytic/binding, metabolic, cellular, single‑organism, and stress‑defense categories. Cassava’s defence responses to autotoxic stress appeared to be initiated by apoplastic glutathione, while salicylic acid served as the primary signalling hormone, modulating glutathione metabolism systemically. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that under identical stress conditions, the two varieties shared conserved basal defences but diverged in their adaptive strategies, revealing fundamental molecular distinctions between the genotypes.

Keywords: continue cropping obstacle; chronic sub-lethal stress; oxidative balance; resource allocation trade-off xidative balance

Received: July 17, 2026; Revised: October 19, 2026; Accepted: October 25, 2026; Published: October 29, 2026  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Gan L, Li G, Han X, Bei L, Peng X, Fan X, et al.. Root vitality and protein homeostasis determine divergent strategies against autotoxicity in cassava cultivars. Plant, Soil and Environment. 2026;72(10):581-605. doi: 10.17221/336/2026-PSE.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Ardiç Ş.K., Szafrańska K., Havan A., Karaca A., Aslan M.Ö., Sözeri E., Yakupoğlu G., Korkmaz A. (2023): Endogenous melatonin content confers drought stress tolerance in pepper. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 216: 105536. Go to original source...
    2. Bai Y., Wang G., Cheng Y., Shi P., Yang C., Yang H., Xu Z. (2019): Soil acidification in continuously cropped tobacco alters bacterial community structure and diversity via the accumulation of phenolic acids. Scientific Reports, 9: 12499. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    3. Balint-Kurti P. (2019): The plant hypersensitive response: concepts, control and consequences. Molecular Plant Pathology, 20: 1163-1178. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Bandurska H., Niedziela J., Pietrowska-Borek M., Nuc K., Chadzinikolau T., Radzikowska D. (2017): Regulation of proline biosynthesis and resistance to drought stress in two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes of different origin. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry : Ppb, 118: 427-437. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    5. Bilbao A., Varesio E., Luban J., Strambio-De-Castillia C., Hopfgartner G., Müller M., Lisacek F. (2015): Processing strategies and software solutions for data-independent acquisition in mass spectrometry. Proteomics, 15: 964-980. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Bolwell G.P. (1999): Role of active oxygen species and NO in plant defence responses. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 2: 287-294. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Bruce Williamson G., Richardson D. (1988): Bioassays for allelopathy: measuring treatment responses with independent controls. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 14: 181-187. Go to original source...
    8. Ceballos H., Iglesias C.A., Pérez J.C., Dixon A.G.O. (2004): Cassava breeding: opportunities and challenges. Plant Molecular Biology, 56: 503-516. Go to original source...
    9. Chen Z., Silva H., Klessig D.F. (1993): Active oxygen species in the induction of plant systemic acquired resistance by salicylic acid. Science, 262: 1883-1886. Go to original source...
    10. Chi W., Chen Y., Hsiung Y., Fu S., Chou C., Trinh N.N., Chen Y., Huang H. (2013): Autotoxicity mechanism of Oryza sativa: transcriptome response in rice roots exposed to ferulic acid. BMC Genomics, 14: 351. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Dong Y., Li C., Zhang Y., He Q., Daud M.K., Chen J., Zhu S. (2016): Glutathione S-transferase gene family in Gossypium raimondii and G. arboreum: comparative genomic study and their expression under salt stress. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7: 139. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    12. Du B., Haensch R., Alfarraj S., Rennenberg H. (2024): Strategies of plants to overcome abiotic and biotic stresses. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 99: 1524-1536. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. Dumanović J., Nepovimova E., Natić M., Kuča K., Jaćević V. (2021): The significance of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense system in plants: a concise overview. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11: 552969. Go to original source...
    14. Durrant W.E., Dong X. (2004): Systemic acquired resistance. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 42: 185-209. Go to original source...
    15. Edwards R., Dixon D.P., Walbot V. (2000): Plant glutathione
    16. S-transferases: enzymes with multiple functions in sickness and in health. Trends in Plant Science, 5: 193-198. Go to original source...
    17. El-Sharkawy M., Cadavid L. (2002): Response of cassava to prolonged water stress imposed at different stages of growth. Experimental Agriculture, 38: 333-350. Go to original source...
    18. Farvardin A., González-Hernández A.I., Llorens E., García-Agustín P., Scalschi L., Vicedo B. (2020): The apoplast: a key player in plant survival. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9: 604. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Foyer C.H., Noctor G. (2011): Ascorbate and glutathione: the heart of the redox hub. Plant Physiology, 155: 2-18. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    20. Guo B., Liu C., Li H., Yi K., Ding N., Li N., Lin Y., Fu Q. (2016): Endogenous salicylic acid is required for promoting cadmium tolerance of Arabidopsis by modulating glutathione metabolisms. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 316: 77-86. Go to original source...
    21. Han X., Yang W., Qin F., Fan X., Li L., Huang K., Yang T., Shen Z., Wei M. (2022): Extraction and characterization of root exudates of different cassava varieties. Chinese Journal of Tropical Crops, 43: 1248-1258.
    22. Han X., Zhang J., Bei L., Huang K., Li L., Yang T., Wei M. (2023): Identification and allelopathic effect of root exudates of tissue-culture cassava under continuous cropping. Southwest China Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 36: 1653-1661. (In Chinese)
    23. Hiddink G.A., Termorshuizen A.J., van Bruggen A.H.C. (2010): Mixed cropping and suppression of soilborne diseases. In: Lichtfouse E. (ed.): Genetic Engineering, Biofertilisation, Soil Quality and Organic Farming. Dordrecht, Springer Netherlands, 119-146 Go to original source...
    24. Hua C., Xie Z., Wu Z., Zhang Y., Guo Z., Qiu Y., Wang L., Wang Y. (2019): The physiological and biochemical effects of phthalic acids and the changes of rhizosphere fungi diversity under continuous cropping of Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor). Hortscience, 54: 253-261. Go to original source...
    25. Ito T., Ohkama-Ohtsu N. (2023): Degradation of glutathione and glutathione conjugates in plants. Journal of Experimental Botany, 74: 3313-3327. Go to original source...
    26. Köstner B., Schupp R., Schulze E., Rennenberg H. (1998): Organic and inorganic sulfur transport in the xylem sap and the sulfur budget of Picea abies trees. Tree Physiology, 18: 1-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Liang H., Huang J., Han Q., Chen D., Xiao X., An F., Xue M. (2016): Analysis of cassava yield gap and its limiting factors in main production areas of Hainan island. Chinese Journal of Tropical Crops, 37: 1863-1871. (In Chinese)
    28. Liang H., Huang J., Wei Y., UKundian, Liu C. (2017): Analysis of yield gap and limiting factors for cassava on the farmland. Journal of Yunnan Agricultural University (Natural Science ), 32: 975-984. (In Chinese)
    29. Liao Q., Shen Z., Li G., Peng X., Peng X., Liao Q., Lao S., Wei M. (2026): Soil microbial community stability: a key to sustainable cassava production. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 62: 607-628. Go to original source...
    30. Liu N., Zhang S., Huang Y., Cai H., Zhu X. (2020): Understory and canopy additions of nitrogen differentially affect carbon and nitrogen metabolism of Psychotria rubra in an evergreen broad-leaved forest. Science of the Total Environment, 724: 138183. Go to original source...
    31. Liu W., Wang N., Yao X., He D., Sun H., Ao X., Wang H., Zhang H., Martin S.S., Xie F., Wang J. (2023): Continuous-cropping-tolerant soybean cultivars alleviate continuous cropping obstacles by improving structure and function of rhizosphere microorganisms. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13: 1048747. Go to original source...
    32. Luo W., Bei L., Liao Q., Liang Q., Ou G., Mo Y. (2026): Effects of planting density on stem-leaf angle, yield and quality of different cassava varieties. Journal of Guangxi Normal University (Natural Science Edition), 44: 205-223. (In Chinese)
    33. Ma Z., Guan Z., Liu Q., Hu Y., Liu L., Wang B., Huang L., Li H., Yang Y., Han M., Gao Z., Saleem M. (2023): Chapter four-obstacles in continuous cropping: mechanisms and control measures. In: Sparks D.L. (ed.): Advances in Agronomy. Amsterdam, Academic Press, 205-256. Go to original source...
    34. Mammari N., Krier Y., Albert Q., Devocelle M., Varbanov M., On B.O.T.O. (2021): Plant-derived antimicrobial peptides as potential antiviral agents in systemic viral infections. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 14: 774. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    35. Mohr P.G., Cahill D.M. (2007): Suppression by ABA of salicylic acid and lignin accumulation and the expression of multiple genes, in Arabidopsis infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. Functional and Integrative Genomics, 7: 181-191. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    36. Okuda S., Yamada T., Hamajima M., Itoh M., Katayama T., Bork P., Goto S., Kanehisa M. (2008): KEGG Atlas mapping for global analysis of metabolic pathways. Nucleic Acids Research, 36: W423-W426. Go to original source...
    37. Pan K., Lu C., Nie P., Hu M., Zhou X., Chen X., Wang W. (2021): Predominantly symplastic phloem unloading of photosynthates maintains efficient starch accumulation in the cassava storage roots (Manihot esculenta Crantz). BMC Plant Biology, 21: 318. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    38. Parisi K., Shafee T.M.A., Quimbar P., van der Weerden N.L., Bleackley M.R., Anderson M.A. (2019): The evolution, function and mechanisms of action for plant defensins. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 88: 107-118. Go to original source...
    39. Vernooij B., Uknes S., Ward E., Ryals J. (1994): Salicylic acid as a signal molecule in plant-pathogen interactions. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 6: 275-279. Go to original source...
    40. Wang C., Liu Z., Wang Z., Pang W., Zhang L., Wen Z., Zhao Y., Sun J., Wang Z., Yang C. (2022): Effects of autotoxicity and allelopathy on seed germination and seedling growth in Medicago truncatula. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13: 908426. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    41. Wang J., Zhang Z., Wu J., Han X., Wang-Pruski G., Zhang Z. (2020): Genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression analysis related to autotoxicity of the GST gene family in Cucumis melo L. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry: 155: 59-69. Go to original source...
    42. Yang M., Chuan Y., Guo C., Liao J., Xu Y., Mei X., Liu Y., Huang H., He X., Zhu S. (2018): Panax notoginseng root cell death caused by the autotoxic ginsenoside Rg1 is due to over-accumulation of ROS, as revealed by transcriptomic and cellular approaches. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9: 264. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    43. Yang M., Zhang X., Xu Y., Mei X., Jiang B., Liao J., Yin Z., Zheng J., Zhao Z., Fan L., He X., Zhu Y., Zhu S. (2015): Autotoxic ginsenosides in the rhizosphere contribute to the replant failure of Panax notoginseng. PlosOne, 10: e118555. Go to original source...
    44. Yang T., Gan L., Peng X., Peng X., Li L., Huang Y., Xiong F., Wei M. (2025): Overexpression of cassava MeAMY1 and MeBAM3 genes enhance drought and salt stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 226: 110058. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    45. Yang T., Li H., Li L., Wei W., Huang Y., Xiong F., Wei M. (2023): Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of α-amylase and β-amylase genes underlying drought tolerance in cassava. BMC Genomics, 24: 190. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    46. Yasuda M., Ishikawa A., Jikumaru Y., Seki M., Umezawa T., Asami T., Maruyama-Nakashita A., Kudo T., Shinozaki K., Yoshida S., Nakashita H. (2008): Antagonistic interaction between systemic acquired resistance and the abscisic acid-mediated abiotic stress response in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 20: 1678-1692. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    47. Yin C., Xiang L., Wang G., Wang Y., Shen X., Chen X., Mao Z. (2016): How to plant apple trees to reduce replant disease in apple orchard: a study on the phenolic acid of the replanted apple orchard. PlosOne, 11: e167347. Go to original source...
    48. Zandalinas S.I., Fichman Y., Devireddy A.R., Sengupta S., Azad R.K., Mittler R. (2020): Systemic signaling during abiotic stress combination in plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117: 13810-13820. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    49. Zechmann B. (2020): Subcellular roles of glutathione in mediating plant defense during biotic stress. Plants-Basel, 9: 1067. Go to original source...
    50. Zhang S., Jin Y., Zhu W., Tang J., Hu S., Zhou T., Chen X. (2010): Baicalin released from Scutellaria baicalensis induces autotoxicity and promotes soilborn pathogens. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 36: 329-338. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    51. Zhang Z., Zhang Z., Han X., Wu J., Zhang L., Wang J., Wang-Pruski G. (2020): Specific response mechanism to autotoxicity in melon (Cucumis melo L.) root revealed by physiological analyses combined with transcriptome profiling. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 200: 110779. Go to original source...
    52. Zhou X., Wu F. (2012): P-coumaric acid influenced cucumber rhizosphere soil microbial communities and the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum Owen. PlosOne, 7: e48288. Go to original source...
    53. Zhu F., Xi D., Yuan S., Xu F., Zhang D., Lin H. (2014): Salicylic acid and jasmonic acid are essential for systemic resistance against tobacco mosaic virus in Nicotiana benthamiana. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions: 27: 567-577. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content