Gibberellic Acid Alleviates Cadmium-Induced Seed Germination Inhibition through Modulation of Carbohydrate Metabolism and Antioxidant Capacity in Mung Bean Seedlings

Harmanjit Kaur, Faroza Nazir, Sofi Javed Hussain, Rupinder Kaur, Ashish B. Rajurkar, Sarika Kumari, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Moksh Mahajan, Sayeda Khatoon and M. Iqbal R. Khan ()
Additional contact information
Harmanjit Kaur: Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India
Faroza Nazir: Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India
Sofi Javed Hussain: Department of Botany, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal 191131, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Rupinder Kaur: Department of Botany, Akal University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda 151302, Punjab, India
Ashish B. Rajurkar: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
Sarika Kumari: Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India
Manzer H. Siddiqui: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Moksh Mahajan: Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India
Sayeda Khatoon: Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India
M. Iqbal R. Khan: Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-25

Abstract: Gibberellins (GA) are the decisive players in seed germination whose functionality could be adversely affected by the presence of cadmium (Cd); however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Eco-toxicological effects of Cd (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 µM) on the early stages of ontogenesis in a mung bean variety (ML-2056) were investigated. Seed germination characteristics along with Cd-tolerance index were recorded at the seventh day of germination. Additionally, endogenous gibberellic acid (GA3) level, amylase activity, oxidative stress, and the antioxidant defense system were also investigated in Cd-stressed germinating seedlings. Results revealed that Cd reduced seed germination and interfered with GA synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. Further, to validate the role of GA in Cd-tolerance, experiments were executed to explore the effect of seed priming with GA3 and its biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol (PBZ) on ML-2056 under Cd stress. Application of GA3 improved the activities of amylase and carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, the antioxidant defense system, and sustained lower H 2 O 2 and TBARS contents, whereas PBZ caused a significant reduction in growth and decreased endogenous GA3 content in Cd-stressed ML-2056, suggesting a crucial role of GA synthesis in reversing Cd-induced negative effects. Overall, GA synthesis played a crucial role in mitigating Cd toxicity in mung bean, which might be used as a criterion for developing Cd-stress-tolerant genotypes.

Keywords: amylase; antioxidants; paclobutrazol; cadmium; carbohydrate metabolism; gibberellins (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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