Overexpression of Trx CDSP32 gene promotes chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthetic electron transfer and alleviates cadmium-induced photoinhibition of PSII and PSI in tobacco leaves.

•Chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthetic function in overexpression of Trx CDSP32 gene tobacco seedlings under Cd stress.•Cd stress blocks photosynthetic electron transfer, and inhibits PSII and PSI activities in tobacco leaves..•Trx CDSP32 can alleviate Cd-induced down-regulation of chlorophyll synthesis and electron transfer chain-related proteins expression.•Trx CDSP32 plays a critical role in preventing chlorophyll degradation and alleviating photoinhibition in tobacco leaves under Cd stress.