Alkalinity
is
a
significant
environmental
factor
affecting
crop
production,
which
exacerbated
by
the
current
climate
change
scenario.
In
alkaline
soils,
iron
availability
severely
reduced
due
to
its
low
solubility
at
high
pH
levels
and
bicarbonate
concentrations,
hinders
plant
absorption
rendering
it
inactive.
modern
agriculture,
green-synthesized
nanoparticles
have
attracted
considerable
attention
their
compatibility,
cost-effectiveness,
enhanced
potential
for
foliar
uptake.
This
study
explores
effects
of
various
sources
including
FeSO4.7H2O,
Fe-EDDHA,
Nano-Fe,
nano-Fe,
three
concentrations
(0,
0.25,
0.5
g
L−
1)
on
growth,
physiological,
biochemical
parameters,
nutrient
uptake
goji
berry.
The
evaluated
parameters
included
leaf
area,
fresh
dry
weight
leaves
fruits,
chlorophyll
a,
b,
a/b
ratio,
carotenoids,
total
soluble
sugar
in
catalase,
guaiacol
peroxidase,
ascorbate
peroxidase
enzymes,
elements
(N,
P,
K,
Ca,
Mg,
Cu,
Mn,
Zn,
Fe).
Results
demonstrated
that
increasing
led
weights
with
highest
values
recorded
L⁻¹
all
sources.
Nano-Fe
significantly
boosted
leaves,
resulting
4.95
4.84-fold
increase
compared
control.
(1.267
g)
(0.815
fruit
were
observed
nano-Fe.
Regarding
photosynthetic
pigments,
ratio
peaked
1.62
mg
g⁻¹
FW
under
nano-Fe
treatment,
while
control
exhibited
lowest
(1.31
FW).
A
similar
trend
was
uptake,
content
(0.189
DW)
(0.116
Although
concentration
positively
influenced
most
traits,
decline
zinc
manganese
levels.
Overall,
these
results
highlight
as
an
efficient,
cost-effective
source
improving
vegetative
pigment
levels,
berries
grown
soils.
Bell
pepper
(Capsicum
annuum
L.)
is
a
commercially
important
and
nutritionally
rich
vegetable
crop
in
the
Solanaceae
family.
Alkaline
stress
(AS)
can
disrupt
growth,
metabolism,
and,
particularly,
nutritional
quality.
This
study
aims
to
evaluate
role
of
iron
oxide
nanoparticles
(FeNP)
mitigating
AS
enhancing
plant
growth
metabolic
functions
by
conducting
experiments
under
controlled
greenhouse
conditions
with
four
main
treatments:
(irrigating
plants
alkaline
salts
mixture
solution);
FeNP
(foliar
application
Fe3O4
at
100
mg
L−¹);
+
(integrated
treatment
FeNP);
CK
(control).
The
results
clearly
demonstrated
that
negatively
affects
biomass,
photosynthetic
attributes,
membrane
integrity,
carbohydrate
balance
antioxidant
system.
Additionally,
key
phenolic
flavonoid
compounds
decreased
AS,
indicating
detrimental
effect
on
plant's
secondary
metabolites.
In
contrast,
not
only
improved
attributes
but
also
enhanced
integrity
restored
balance.
restoration
was
driven
accumulation
sugars
(glucose,
fructose,
sucrose)
starch,
along
metabolism
enzymes—sucrose
phosphate
synthase
(SPS),
sucrose
(SuSy),
neutral
invertase
(NI),
vacuolar
(VI)—and
their
associated
gene
expression.
correlation
analysis
further
revealed
tight
regulation
both
enzymatic
transcript
levels
all
tissue
types,
except
for
SPS
roots.
Furthermore,
resulted
increased
phenolics
(dihydrocapsaicin,
capsaicin,
p-coumaric
acid,
sinapic
p-OH
benzoic
benzaldehyde,
ferulic
acid)
(dihydroquercetin,
naringenin,
kaempferol,
dihydrokaempferol,
quercetin)
compared
treatment,
thus
suggesting
these
metabolites
likely
contribute
stabilization
cellular
structures
membranes,
ultimately
supporting
physiological
resilience
stress.
conclusion,
demonstrate
potential
bell
against
improving
Abstract
Soil
pollution
with
heavy
metals
has
grown
to
be
a
big
hassle,
leading
the
loss
in
farming
production
particularly
developing
countries
like
Pakistan,
where
no
proper
channel
is
present
for
irrigation
and
extraction
of
these
toxic
metals.
The
study
aims
ameliorate
damages
caused
by
metal
ions
(Hg-Mercury)
on
rapeseed
(
Brassica
napus
L.)
via
growth
regulator
(α-tocopherol
150
mg/L)
thermopriming
technique
at
4
°C
50
maintain
plant
agronomical
physiological
characteristics.
In
pot
experiments,
we
designed
total
11
treatments
viz.(
T0
(control),
T1
(Hg4ppm),
T2
(Hg8ppm),
T3
(Hg4ppm
+
°C),
T4
tocopherol
(150
m/L)),
T5
T6
mg/L)),
T7
(Hg8ppm
T8
T9
T10
results
revealed
that
chlorophyll
content
p
<
0.05
antioxidant
enzymes
such
as
catalase,
peroxidase,
malondialdehyde
enhanced
up
maximum
level
=
Hg4ppm
(50
under
ppm
mercuric
chloride
stress),
suggesting
high
temperature
initiate
system
reduce
photosystem
damage.
However,
protein,
proline,
superoxide
dismutase
0.05,
carotenoid,
soluble
sugar,
ascorbate
peroxidase
were
increased
non-significantly
>
0.05)
8
stress
(T9
Hg8ppm
°C)
representing
tolerance
selected
specie
synthesizing
osmolytes
resist
oxidation
mechanism.
Furthermore,
reduction
%
MC
(moisture
content)
easily
improved
foliar
application
α-tocopherol
mg/L),
remarkable
increase
vigor
germination
energy.
It
resulted
inhibitory
effect
only
lower
concentration
(4
ppm)
was
ameliorated
exogenous
levels
proline
activities
maintaining
seedling
development
contaminated
soil.
Scientific Reports,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
15(1)
Опубликована: Янв. 8, 2025
Maize
(Zea
mays
L.)
faces
significant
challenges
to
its
growth
and
productivity
from
heavy
metal
stress,
particularly
Chromium
(Cr)
which
induces
reactive
oxygen
species
(ROS)
generation
damages
photosynthetic
tissues.
This
study
aimed
investigate
the
effects
of
fulvic
acid
(FA)
application,
via
foliar
spray
or
root
irrigation,
on
mitigating
chromium
stress
in
maize
by
evaluating
impact
antioxidant
activity
parameters.
Two
varieties,
P3939
30Y87,
were
subjected
(CrCl3·6H2O)
at
concentrations
300
µM
100
for
a
duration
5
weeks.
The
experiment
was
conducted
wire
house
under
natural
environmental
conditions
Seed
Centre,
Institute
Botany,
University
Punjab,
Lahore,
Pakistan.
Physiological
assessments
included
electrolyte
leakage,
chlorophyll
pigment
content,
malondialdehyde
(MDA)
levels,
activities
enzymes
such
as
catalase
(CAT),
ascorbate
peroxidase
(APX),
guaiacol
(GPX)
leaves.
Growth
parameters
also
monitored.
results
revealed
that
significantly
reduced
content
increased
oxidative
evidenced
elevated
MDA
levels
leakage.
However,
FA
application
notably
mitigated
these
effects:
improved
15%,
decreased
significantly.
Irrigation
with
effective,
reducing
40%
compared
treatment.
Furthermore,
while
enhanced
enzyme
activities,
further
boosted
total
soluble
protein
conditions.
In
conclusion,
demonstrates
potential
improving
tolerance
enhancing
defense
system
preserving
pigments.
These
findings
highlight
FA's
promise
practical
strategy
negative
impacts
maize,
promoting
sustainable
agricultural
practices
contaminated
environments.
