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Protective Response of 28-Homobrassinolide in Cultivars of Triticum aestivum with Different Levels of Nickel

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Abstract

Seeds of five wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars (PBW-373, UP-2338, DL-LOK-01, DL-373, and HD-2338) were sown in earthen pots and 10-day-old seedlings were exposed to 0, 50, and 100 μM of nickel (Ni) in the form of nickel chloride. At the 20-day stage, seedlings were sprayed with 0.01 μM of 28-homobrassinolide (HBL). The results of the experiment at the 30-day stage revealed a decline in the dry mass per plant, leaf area, leaf water potential, and net photosynthetic rate with concomitant decline in the activities of various enzymes (viz. carbonic anhydrase and nitrate reductase) with an increasing concentration of Ni. However, an increase in proline content and the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase was observed as a result of an increase in Ni concentration. Moreover, the treatment of these stressed plants with HBL enhanced the activities of carbonic anhydrase and nitrate reductase, catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. The proline content in the leaves also increased, which is known to act as an osmolyte and reactive oxygen species scavenger. The toxic effects generated by Ni were ameliorated by HBL through an improved antioxidant system and osmolyte. Moreover, improvement of photosynthetic parameters and growth characteristics further strengthen our belief that HBL acted as a potent stress alleviator.

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Acknowledgment

The author Q. Fariduddin is thankful to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India for the award of a research project under the SERC Fast Track Scheme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Physiology Section, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202 002, India

    Mohammad Yusuf, Qazi Fariduddin, Shamsul Hayat & Syed Aiman Hasan

  2. Department of Applied Sciences, Higher College of Technology, Al-Khuwair, Sultanate of Oman

    Aqil Ahmad

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  1. Mohammad Yusuf
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  2. Qazi Fariduddin
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  4. Syed Aiman Hasan
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Correspondence to Qazi Fariduddin.

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Yusuf, M., Fariduddin, Q., Hayat, S. et al. Protective Response of 28-Homobrassinolide in Cultivars of Triticum aestivum with Different Levels of Nickel. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 60, 68–76 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9535-0

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