Exogenous Caffeine (1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine) Application Diminishes Cadmium Toxicity by Modulating Physio-Biochemical Attributes and Improving the Growth of Spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.)

Naila Emanuil, Muhammad Sohail Akram, Shafaqat Ali, Ali Majrashi, Muhammad Iqbal, Mohamed A. El-Esawi, Allah Ditta and Hesham F. Alharby
Additional contact information
Naila Emanuil: Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Muhammad Sohail Akram: Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Shafaqat Ali: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Ali Majrashi: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Iqbal: Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Mohamed A. El-Esawi: Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Allah Ditta: Department of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Upper Dir 18000, Pakistan
Hesham F. Alharby: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Leafy vegetables usually absorb and retain heavy metals more readily than most of the other crop plants, and thus contribute ≥70% of the total cadmium (Cd) intake of humans. Caffeine mediates plant growth and has proved to be beneficial against pathogens and insects. Therefore, it was hypothesized that foliar applications of caffeine could alter metabolism and reduce Cd toxicity in spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.). Seven-day old spinach seedlings were provided with Cd (0, 50, and 100 µM) stress. Caffeine (0, 5, or 10 mM) foliar spray was given twice at after 20 days of seeds germination with an interval of one week. In results, Cd stress reduced photosynthetic pigments biosynthesis, increased oxidative stress, imbalanced nutrient retention, and inhibited plant growth. On the other hand, the caffeine-treated spinach plants showed better growth owing to the enhanced biosynthesis of chlorophylls, better oxidative defense systems, and lower accumulation and transport of Cd within the plant tissues. Furthermore, caffeine application enhanced the accumulation of the proline and ascorbic acid, but reduced MDA and H 2 O 2 contents and Cd in plant leaves, and ultimately improved mineral nutrition of spinach plants exposed to different Cd regimes. In conclusion, exogenous application of caffeine significantly diminishes Cd stress by modulating physiological, biochemical, and growth attributes of spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.)

Keywords: antioxidants; heavy metals; crop plants; oxidative stress; nutritional quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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