Inhibition of ferric reductase activity and AhIRT1expression by PDMA application
The physiological and underlying molecular responses to Fe deficiency in roots were inhibited following PDMA application. As shown in Fig. 3a, the three treatments greatly reduced ferric reduction activity compared with the control, and the plants treated with PDMA–Fe exhibited a lower level than plants treated with PDMA and a higher level than plants treated with EDTA–Fe. Additionally, AhIRT1 expression in roots was decreased by 58%, 55%, and 56% following treatment with PDMA, PDMA–Fe, and EDTA–Fe compared with the control, respectively (Fig. 3b). These results indicate that the available Fe level in the rhizosphere was much higher following PDMA, PDMA–Fe, and EDTA–Fe treatment than in the control plants.