Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination

Abstract This study investigated the adverse effects of Bismuth (Bi) on oat (Avena sativa) growth and its impact on detoxification mechanisms, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant capacity, and osmoregulation. Additionally, it examined the potential of germanium (Ge) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fung...

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Main Authors: Xu Yang, Emad A. Alsherif, Nadia Mohamed El-Shafey, Shereen Magdy Korany, Yousef Alhaj Hamoud, Hiba Shaghaleh, Mohamed S. Sheteiwy, Saad Suliemani, Mahmoud M.Y. Madany
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06989-7
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author Xu Yang
Emad A. Alsherif
Nadia Mohamed El-Shafey
Shereen Magdy Korany
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
Hiba Shaghaleh
Mohamed S. Sheteiwy
Saad Suliemani
Mahmoud M.Y. Madany
author_facet Xu Yang
Emad A. Alsherif
Nadia Mohamed El-Shafey
Shereen Magdy Korany
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
Hiba Shaghaleh
Mohamed S. Sheteiwy
Saad Suliemani
Mahmoud M.Y. Madany
author_sort Xu Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigated the adverse effects of Bismuth (Bi) on oat (Avena sativa) growth and its impact on detoxification mechanisms, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant capacity, and osmoregulation. Additionally, it examined the potential of germanium (Ge) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), individually or in combination, to mitigate these effects. Bi exposure significantly reduced fresh weight and dry weight by ‎65% and 68.9% of control ‎, respectively. However, the combined application (AMF + Ge + Bi) increased fresh and dry weights by 92.8% and 123.9%, respectively, and improved photosynthesis by 67%, mitigating Bi-induced reductions. Bi exposure significantly increased oxidative stress markers, including H₂O₂ and MDA, while treatments with Ge and AMF mitigated these effects. Antioxidant metabolites (e.g., polyphenols, ASC and GSH) and enzymes activities (e.g., SOD, APX and CAT) increased, particularly under the combined Ge + Bi treatment, which enhanced the plant defense system, with total antioxidant capacity showing the highest rise (129.2%) compared to untreated plants. Detoxification responses such as increased phytochelatins and glutathione-related compounds were observed under Bi stress, while Ge and AMF improved detoxification efficiency by reducing metallothionein levels. At the same time, the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars supported osmotic adjustment. Overall, the synergistic action of Ge and AMF alleviated Bi-induced stress by enhancing growth, boosting photosynthesis, reducing oxidative damage, and strengthening detoxification capacity, highlighting their potential for improving crop resilience.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-7ca83443e3b145d0b964c03126527df62025-08-20T03:45:59ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-08-0125111510.1186/s12870-025-06989-7Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contaminationXu Yang0Emad A. Alsherif1Nadia Mohamed El-Shafey2Shereen Magdy Korany3Yousef Alhaj Hamoud4Hiba Shaghaleh5Mohamed S. Sheteiwy6Saad Suliemani7Mahmoud M.Y. Madany8College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef UniversityDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityCollege of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai UniversitySchool of Energy and Environment, Southeast UniversityDepartment of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Taibah UniversityAbstract This study investigated the adverse effects of Bismuth (Bi) on oat (Avena sativa) growth and its impact on detoxification mechanisms, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant capacity, and osmoregulation. Additionally, it examined the potential of germanium (Ge) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), individually or in combination, to mitigate these effects. Bi exposure significantly reduced fresh weight and dry weight by ‎65% and 68.9% of control ‎, respectively. However, the combined application (AMF + Ge + Bi) increased fresh and dry weights by 92.8% and 123.9%, respectively, and improved photosynthesis by 67%, mitigating Bi-induced reductions. Bi exposure significantly increased oxidative stress markers, including H₂O₂ and MDA, while treatments with Ge and AMF mitigated these effects. Antioxidant metabolites (e.g., polyphenols, ASC and GSH) and enzymes activities (e.g., SOD, APX and CAT) increased, particularly under the combined Ge + Bi treatment, which enhanced the plant defense system, with total antioxidant capacity showing the highest rise (129.2%) compared to untreated plants. Detoxification responses such as increased phytochelatins and glutathione-related compounds were observed under Bi stress, while Ge and AMF improved detoxification efficiency by reducing metallothionein levels. At the same time, the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars supported osmotic adjustment. Overall, the synergistic action of Ge and AMF alleviated Bi-induced stress by enhancing growth, boosting photosynthesis, reducing oxidative damage, and strengthening detoxification capacity, highlighting their potential for improving crop resilience.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06989-7Oxidative stressOsmoregulation markersDetoxificationBioremediationStress mitigation
spellingShingle Xu Yang
Emad A. Alsherif
Nadia Mohamed El-Shafey
Shereen Magdy Korany
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
Hiba Shaghaleh
Mohamed S. Sheteiwy
Saad Suliemani
Mahmoud M.Y. Madany
Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination
BMC Plant Biology
Oxidative stress
Osmoregulation markers
Detoxification
Bioremediation
Stress mitigation
title Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination
title_full Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination
title_fullStr Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination
title_full_unstemmed Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination
title_short Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and germanium: a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination
title_sort arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and germanium a dual approach to enhancing oat growth and mitigating oxidative damage due to bismuth contamination
topic Oxidative stress
Osmoregulation markers
Detoxification
Bioremediation
Stress mitigation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06989-7
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