Metabolomics reveals the “Invisible” detoxification mechanisms of Amaranthus hypochondriacus at three ages upon exposure to different levels of cadmium

To decipher the Cd hyperaccumulation and tolerance mechanisms of plants and increase phytoremediation efficiency, in this study, the physiological effects induced by environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 25 and 200 mg/kg) of Cd were characterized in Amaranthus hypochondriacus (K472) at three growth stages using LC/MS-based metabolomics. Metabolomic analysis identified 31, 29 and 30 significantly differential metabolites (SDMs) in K472 exposed to Cd at the early, intermediate and late stages of vegetative growth, respectively. These SDMs are involved in nine metabolic pathways responsible for antioxidation, osmotic balance regulation, energy supplementation and the promotion of metabolites that participate in phytochelatin (PC) synthesis. K472 at the intermediate stage of vegetative growth had the strongest tolerance to Cd with the combined action of Ala, Asp and Glu metabolism, purine metabolism, Gly, Ser and Thr metabolism and Pro and Arg metabolism. Among these crucial metabolic biomarkers, purine metabolism could be the primary regulatory target for increasing the Cd absorption of K472 for the restoration of Cd-contaminated soil.