Seyedeh Yalda Raeisi Sadati; Fereshteh Raeisi Sadati; Mir Reza Raeisi Sadati
Abstract
Introduction
With the industrialization of societies in recent days, many toxic compounds have been released into the environment. Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals is ...
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Introduction
With the industrialization of societies in recent days, many toxic compounds have been released into the environment. Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals is one of the most important global factors of soil pollution that threatens food security. Medicinal plants are important economic plants and their products are widely consumed in the world and Iran. Since cadmium is known as the main element in causing various cancers, especially digestive cancer, it is necessary and important to investigate the effects of this toxic metal on the quantitative and qualitative properties of fennel. Using nano fertilizers in soil and nutrients can be a suitable solution to reduce the adverse effects of this heavy metal.
Materials and Methods
This experiment was conducted in order to evaluate some biochemical characteristics of fennel plant and the possibility of mitigating the effects of cadmium heavy metal stress by foliar spraying of selenium nanoparticles, algae extract and their interaction in greenhouse conditions in a factorial manner based on a randomized complete block experimental design with three replications in 2023-2024 was implemented. The first factor included the heavy metal cadmium chloride at two levels (control and 20 mg/kg of soil) and the second factor is foliar application at three levels (control, algal extract, and selenium nanoparticle with concentrations of 2 mg/L and 20 mg/L).
Results
The findings showed that under cadmium stress, the amount of malondialdehyde, catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, proline content and ion leakage percentage increased significantly, while the content of photosynthetic pigments decreased compared to the control. Also, the highest level of malondialdehyde concentration and activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes were observed in foliar spraying with algal extract under cadmium stress compared to the control. The synergistic effect of selenium nanoparticle and algal extract decreased ion leakage by 3.91% and increased proline and photosynthetic pigments by 16.73%, especially chlorophyll b by 33.11%. In other words, the adverse effects of cadmium stress have been reduced by strengthening the antioxidant and photosynthetic system of fennel plant by selenium nanoparticles and algae extract.
Conclusions
In general, foliar application of algal extract (concentration of 2 mg/L) due to the high content of macro and micro elements and antioxidant properties compared to selenium nanoparticles, has been able to inhibit free radicals by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and by reducing the electrolyte leakage, maintain the integrity of the membrane in the condition of cadmium stress.
