Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation

Abstrait

Alleviation of Lead Toxicity by Silicon is Related to Elevated Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Enzymes Suppressed Lead Uptake and Oxidative Stress in Cotton

Bharwana SA, Ali S, Farooq MA, Iqbal N, Abbas F and Ahmad MSA

Lead (Pb) is known to cause highly toxic direct and indirect effects on plants, animals and humans, like other metals of its group. The mitigating effects of exogenous Silicon (Si) application on Pb stressed cotton plants were investigated in this hydroponic study. The following growth parameters were observed chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis, growth, Pb uptake and accumulation, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) contents, Electrolyte Leakage (EL), soluble protein and the activities of major antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; guaiacol peroxidase, GPX; ascorbate peroxidase, APX and catalase, CAT). Six treatments with three replicates including control (basal nutrients comprising neither lead nor silicon), 1 mM silicon (Si), 50 μM Pb, 100 μM Pb, 50 μM Pb with 1 mM Si and 100 μM Pb with 1 mM Silicon (Si) were studied.