Lead accumulation and concomitant reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in Robinia pseudoacacia are dependent on nitrogen nutrition.

Heavy metal pollution combined with nitrogen (N) limitation is a major factor preventing revegetation of contaminated land. Woody N-fixing legumes are a natural choice for phytoremediation. However, the physiological responses of woody legumes to lead (Pb) with low N exposure are currently unknown.

Sulfur availability and nodulation modify the response of Robinia pseudoacacia L. to lead (Pb) exposure.

Both sulfur (S) supply and legume-rhizobium symbiosis can significantly contribute to enhancing the efficiency of phytoremediation of heavy metals (HMs). However, the regulatory mechanism determining the performance of legumes at lead (Pb) exposure have not been elucidated. Here, we cultivated black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.