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Promotive role of 5-aminolevulinic acid on chromium-induced morphological, photosynthetic, and oxidative changes in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis L.)

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Abstract

Chromium (Cr) is among the most toxic pollutants in the environment that adversely affect the living organisms and physiological processes in different plants. The present study investigated the effect of 15 mg L−1 of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on morpho-physiological attributes of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis L.) under different Cr concentrations (0, 10, 100, and 200 μM) in the growth medium. The results showed that Cr stress decreased the growth, biomass, photosynthetic, and gas exchange parameters. Chromium stress enhanced the activities of enzymatic antioxidants, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) in response to oxidative stress caused by the elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and electrolyte leakage (EL) in both roots and leaves of cauliflower. Chromium concentrations and total Cr uptake were increased in leaves, stems, and roots with increasing Cr levels in the culture medium. Foliar application of ALA increased the plant growth parameters, biomass, gas exchange parameters, and photosynthetic pigments under Cr stress compared to the treatments without ALA. Foliar application ALA decreased the levels of MDA, EL, and H2O2 while further improved the performance of antioxidant in both leaves and roots compared to only Cr-stressed plant. Chromium concentrations and total Cr uptake were decreased by the ALA application compared to treatments without ALA application. The results of the present study indicated that foliar application of ALA might be beneficial in minimizing Cr uptake and its toxic effects in cauliflower.

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Acknowledgments

We are highly thankful to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan, for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Rehan Ahmad, Shafaqat Ali, Fakhir Hannan, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Iqbal, Zaidul Hassan & Farhat Abbas

  2. Department of Botany, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Nudrat Aisha Akram

  3. Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, 439 Borlaug Hall (map) 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108-6028, USA

    Saliha Maqbool

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  1. Rehan Ahmad
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  2. Shafaqat Ali
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Correspondence to Muhammad Rizwan.

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Ahmad, R., Ali, S., Hannan, F. et al. Promotive role of 5-aminolevulinic acid on chromium-induced morphological, photosynthetic, and oxidative changes in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis L.). Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 8814–8824 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8603-7

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