Alleviation of Cadmium Phytotoxicity Using Silicon Fertilization in Wheat by Altering Antioxidant Metabolism and Osmotic Adjustment

Abdihakim Osman Heile, Qamar uz Zaman, Zubair Aslam, Afzal Hussain, Mustansar Aslam, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Muyassar H. Abualreesh, Aishah Alatawi and Shafaqat Ali
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Abdihakim Osman Heile: Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Qamar uz Zaman: Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Zubair Aslam: Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Afzal Hussain: Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Mustansar Aslam: Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Okara, Okara 56000, Pakistan
Muhammad Hamzah Saleem: College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Muyassar H. Abualreesh: Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdualaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Aishah Alatawi: Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Tabuk University, Tabuk 71421, Saudi Arabia
Shafaqat Ali: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: Humans are facing very serious health threats from food contamination with cadmium (Cd), and Cd uptake by wheat is amongst the main causes of Cd entrance into the food chain. The current study examined the effect of foliar application (0, 1.50, 3.00 and 4.00 mM) of various silicate chemicals (calcium silicate and potassium silicate) on wheat growth and Cd addition by wheat under Cd stress 20 mg kg −1 of soil using CdCl 2 . The results revealed that under control conditions, the application of Si improved all the growth, physiological, biochemical and quality attributes by reducing malondialdehyde contents and electrolyte leakage. Under Cd stress, the supplementation of Si conferred a better growth rate, gaseous exchange for metabolic activity and maintained the tissues’ turgor and membranes’ stabilities compared to those obtained under control (without Si). The enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) also show rapid action by the application of Si supplement, which were associated with elevated osmoprotectant contents and antioxidants, having role in antioxidant defense against Cd stress. These results suggested that a 4.50 mM concentration of Si supplement (potassium silicate) works effectively against Cd stress. The given results showed that Si supplement is beneficial for the enhancement of many metabolic activities that takes places in plants during the growth period that proved a feasible approach in controlling the Cd concentration within wheat plants and, ultimately, in humans.

Keywords: silicon; wheat; cadmium; oxidative stress; antioxidants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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