Hydroxamate Siderophores Intensify the Co-Deposition of Cadmium and Silicon as Phytolith-Like Particulates in Rice Stem Nodes: A Natural Strategy to Mitigate Grain Cadmium Accumulation

Sequestration of cadmium (Cd) in rice phytolith can effectively restrict its migration to the grains, but how hydroxamate siderophore (HDS) affects phytolith formation within rice plants especially the fate of Cd and silicon (Si) remains poorly understood. Here, we found that the addition of HDS increased the content of dissolved Si and Cd in soil pore water as well as its absorption by the rice roots during the reproductive growth stage. HDS effectively trapped orthosilicic acid and Cd ions at the third stem nodes of rice plants via hydrogen bonds and chelation interactions, which then rapidly deposited on the xylem cell wall through hydrophobic interactions. Ultimately, Cd was immobilized as phytolith-like particulates in the form of CdSiO₃. Field experiments verified that Cd accumulation was significantly reduced by 46.4% in rice grains but increased by 41.2% in rice stems after HDS addition. Overall, this study advances our understanding of microbial metabolites enhancing the instinctive physiological barriers within rice plants.