Exogenous application of trehalose minimizes cadmium toxicity and alleviates oxidative stress in wheat under cadmium stress

Authors: HESHAM F. ALHARBY, HASSAN S. AL-ZAHRANI, KHALID REHMAN HAKEEM, SHAFAQAT ALI

Abstract: Practical and cost-effective food safety and production methods are essential, as huge areas of arable land are contaminated through heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd) pollution worldwide. This study was performed to assess impacts of dissimilar doses of trehalose (Tre) (0, 25, 50 mM) as foliar spray on wheat plants grown under different Cd stress levels (0, 2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg), considering different growth, photosynthetic attributes and antioxidative defense mechanism in relation with the uptake of Cd to different plant parts. A considerable reduction was detected in growth, biomass, and chlorophyll contents under Cd stress linked with boosted lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage (EL), and the uptake of Cd uptake to various parts of plants. Foliar-applied Tre enhanced the hostile possessions of Cd on all studied growing, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange attributes associated with reduced lipid peroxidation due to improved antioxidative defense mechanism and reduced Cd uptake to many parts of plant, as well as in grains. Foliar application of Tre reduced the uptake of Cd by 31% in roots, 33% in shoots, and 41% in grains as compared with respective control plants. The study findings propose Tre as a possible contender in reducing Cd stress in wheat with better growth by improving the physiobiochemical and antioxidative mechanisms and maintained better grain quality due to reduced accumulation of Cd that will help to reduce the Cd toxicity in wheat consumers.

Keywords: Metal stress, oxidative damage, trehalose, antioxidant defense, toxicity alleviation

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