Czech J. Genet. Plant Breed., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/81/2026-CJGPB

Identification and functional analysis of CsZIP9, a ZIP transporter involved in cadmium transport in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)Original Paper

Lili Fu1, Zhaoyang Hu1, Yu Zhang1, Yutong Liu1, Zhangqi Wu1, Yuelong Zhou1, Shiqiang Liu ORCID...1, Hailin Xia1,2, Yong Zhou ORCID...1,2*
1 College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China
2 Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China

Agricultural soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) has become an increasingly serious global issue, and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is highly sensitive to Cd stress. Zinc/iron-regulated transporter-like proteins (ZIPs) are involved in the uptake and translocation of divalent cations. However, the functional roles of cucumber ZIP members in Cd transport remain poorly understood. In this study, we cloned and characterised CsZIP9, a ZIP gene from cucumber. Sequence analysis revealed that CsZIP9 contains eight transmembrane domains and shares high similarity with known Cd‑transporting ZIPs. Expression analysis showed that CsZIP9 exhibits leaf‑preferential expression and is dynamically regulated by Cd stress. Heterologous expression of CsZIP9 in the Cd‑sensitive yeast mutant Δycf1 significantly increased Cd sensitivity, indicating its Cd transport activity. Moreover, overexpression of CsZIP9 in Arabidopsis enhanced Cd tolerance, as evidenced by reduced root growth inhibition under Cd treatment, although no direct measurements of Cd accumulation were conducted to support this conclusion. Taken together, these results indicate that CsZIP9 encodes a functional cadmium transporter, offering a promising candidate gene for enhancing Cd tolerance in cucumber

Keywords: cadmium stress; expression analysis; transgenic Arabidopsis; zinc, iron-regulated transporter-like protein (ZIP)

Received: June 26, 2026; Revised: August 4, 2026; Accepted: August 31, 2026; Prepublished online: September 21, 2026 

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