As a tree of considerable importance in arid regions-date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. survival in contaminated areas of Sfax city has drawn our attention. Leaf samples of the plants grown in the study area showed high levels of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr). On the basis of this finding, the cellular mechanisms that explain these metal accumulations were investigated in controlled conditions. After four months of exposure to Cd, Cr, or Cu, high bioconcentration and translocation factor (TF>1) have been shown for date palm plantlets exposed to Cd and low TF values were obtained for plantlets treated with Cr and Cu. Moreover, accumulation of oxidants and antioxidant enzyme activities occurred in exposed roots to Cu and Cd. Secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, were enhanced in plants exposed at low metal concentrations and declined thereafter. Accumulation of flavonoids in cells may be correlated with the expression of the gene encoding Pdmate5, responsible for the transport of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids. Other transporter genes responded positively to metal incorporation, especially Pdhma2, but also Pdabcc and Pdnramp6. The latter would be a new candidate gene sensitive to metallic stress in plants. Expressions of gene coding metal chelators were also investigated. Pdpcs1 and Pdmt3 exhibited a strong induction in plants exposed to Cr. These modifications of the expression of some biochemical and molecular based-markers in date palm helped to better understand the ability of the plant to tolerate metals. They could be useful in assessing heavy metal contaminations in polluted soils and may improve accumulation capacity of other plants.
Keywords: atmospheric contamination; gene expression; integrative biomarkers; metal accumulation; metallic stress.