Abstract
Heavy metals present in the soil and water are entering the food chain, which in turn causes severe health hazards. The present study was aimed to explore phytotoxicity of various concentrations of lead acetate, zinc and cadmium (0–8000 ppm) in Atriplex halimus L. Exogenous application of zinc significantly boosted shoot length (67.8%), polyphenoloxidase activity (66.6%), chlorophyll a (55.5%), chlorophyll b (45.9%), chlorophyll t (52.4%) and carotenoid (58.6%) under zinc-6000 ppm compared to the control without zinc treatment, while catalase activity and root length reduced by 45.6 and 14.6%, respectively. In comparison to control, polyphenoloxidase and non-enzymatic antioxidant i.e. carotenoid, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll t were significantly enhanced while root length and free proline contents in leaves reduced by 45.6 and 53.1% with exogenous application of plomb-8000 ppm. The same treatment of cadmium (6000 and 8000 ppm) enhanced antioxidant enzymes activities but decreased shoot length, root length and photosynthetic pigments as compared to control. The present results suggest that Atriplex halimus L. had potential tolerance mechanism and could be used to bioremediate the trace elements-contaminated soils.
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Special thanks for the financial support from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, through the associated PRFU project (D01N01UN120120190003) and Laboratory of Plant Biology, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Natural and Life Sciences, University of Tebessa for providing necessary facilities and also technical staffs and students for their high commitment and cooperation in conducting the research.
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Hana SOUAHI: conceptualised, designed the study, supervised the work, analysed the data and drafted the manuscript. Abderrezzeq CHEBOUT, Randa FARES and Loubna SÉDAIRIA carried out the research work in the laboratory. All authors approved the final manuscript.
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Souahi, H., Chebout, A., Fares, R. et al. Remediation of Agricultural Soil by the Use of Halophytic Crops Under Heavy Metals Conditions in Semi-Arid Environments. Gesunde Pflanzen 75, 1181–1192 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00779-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00779-z