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Photosynthesis and growth response of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids exposed to cadmium stress

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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a biologically non-essential heavy metal while the cultivation of Cd-tolerant varieties/hybrids (V) seems the most promising strategy for remediation of Cd-contaminated soils. For this, 24-day-old seedlings of seven maize hybrids, DKC 65-25, DKC 61-25, DKC 919, 23-T-16, 32-B-33, 31-P-41, and Syn hybrid, were grown in hydroponic conditions for 21 additional days in various Cd concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 15 μM). Effects of variety, Cd, and their interaction were highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) for studied plant agronomic and physiological traits except the V × Cd interaction for leaf chlorophyll content, root-shoot length, and root dry weight. The Cd accumulation in root and shoot increased gradually with increasing Cd treatments while copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) uptake was decreased in all hybrids. The reduction in root and shoot biomass and Cd uptake was lower in 32-B-33 and 23-T-16 compared to other hybrids. The highest accumulation of Cu, Zn, and Mn was observed in 32-B-33, DK C65-25, and 31-P-41, respectively. The differential uptake and accumulation of Cd by maize hybrids may be useful in selection and breeding for Cd-tolerant genotypes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors greatly acknowledge the financial support from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Tasneem Akhtar, Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Aamer Maqsood, Muhammad Azhar & Hinnan Khalid

  2. Department of Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Tasneem Akhtar

  3. Soil Science Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Asif Naeem

  4. Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

    Rab Nawaz

  5. Department of Environmental Science, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Shafaqat Ali & Muhammad Rizwan

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  1. Tasneem Akhtar
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  2. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman
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Correspondence to Muhammad Rizwan.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Akhtar, T., Zia-ur-Rehman, M., Naeem, A. et al. Photosynthesis and growth response of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids exposed to cadmium stress. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 5521–5529 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8246-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8246-0

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