Abstract
Contamination of agricultural soil by chromium (Cr) is a serious menace to environmental safety and global food security. Although potential of salicylic acid (SA) in mitigating heavy metal (HM) toxicity in plants is well recognized, detailed physiological mechanisms behind such beneficial effects under Cr-stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plant are far from being completely unravelled. The present study evaluated the efficacy of exogenously applied SA, in alleviating Cr-mediated alterations on photosynthesis and antioxidant defense in tomato exposed to three different concentrations of Cr(VI) [0, 50, and 100 mg Cr(VI) kg−1 soil]. Exposure of tomato plants to Cr resulted in increased Cr-accumulation and oxidative damage, as signposted by high Cr concentration in root as well as shoot, augmented malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxides levels, and inhibition in enzymes of ascorbate–glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle. Furthermore, a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction in photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange parameters was also evident in Cr-stressed tomato plants. Findings of the present study showed that exogenous application of 0.5 mM SA not only promoted plant growth subjected to Cr, but also restored Cr-mediated disturbances in plant physiology. A significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in Cr acquisition and translocation as evidenced by improved growth and photosynthesis in SA-treated plants was observed. Additionally, exogenous SA application by virtue of its positive effect on efficient antioxidant system ameliorated the Cr-mediated oxidative stress in tomato plants as signposted by lower MDA and superoxide levels and improved AsA-GSH cycle. Overall, current study advocates the potential of exogenous SA application in amelioration of Cr-mediated physiological disturbances in tomato plant.
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The authors are thankful to Head, Department of Botany, University of Delhi for providing the research facilities. Mr. Ashish Agnihotri, Ph.D. scholar is deeply apprecited for his crucial contribution in revising this manuscript. The Institution of Eminence (IoE), University of Delhi is greatly acknowledged for providing the assistance in the research.
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Samta Gupta: Performing, collection and assembly of the data, analysis and interpretation of the data, drafting and writing the manuscript, statistical analysis. Chandra Shekhar Seth: Conception and design of the experiment, critical revision of the article for important intellectual content, final approval of the article, provision of study materials, experimental expertise, obtaining of funding, administrative, technical, or logistic support.
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Gupta, S., Seth, C.S. Salicylic acid alleviates chromium (VI) toxicity by restricting its uptake, improving photosynthesis and augmenting antioxidant defense in Solanum lycopersicum L. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 27, 2651–2664 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-021-01088-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-021-01088-x