Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stress

Abstract Salt stress is becoming a major issue for the world’s environment and agriculture economy. Different iron [Fe] sources can give an environmentally friendly alternative for salt-affected soil remediation. In this study the effects of Iron sulfate on Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) cultivated...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Muhammad Waqas, Naila Ali, Zaib-un-Nisa, Muhammad Yasin Ashraf, Sheeraz Usman, Anis Ali Shah, Vaseem Raja, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77182-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850180338355011584
author Muhammad Waqas
Naila Ali
Zaib-un-Nisa
Muhammad Yasin Ashraf
Sheeraz Usman
Anis Ali Shah
Vaseem Raja
Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
author_facet Muhammad Waqas
Naila Ali
Zaib-un-Nisa
Muhammad Yasin Ashraf
Sheeraz Usman
Anis Ali Shah
Vaseem Raja
Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
author_sort Muhammad Waqas
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Salt stress is becoming a major issue for the world’s environment and agriculture economy. Different iron [Fe] sources can give an environmentally friendly alternative for salt-affected soil remediation. In this study the effects of Iron sulfate on Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) cultivated in normal and saline water irrigated soil were examined. When FeSO4 (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 ppm) were applied to salt affected soil, the length, fresh and dry biomass of sponge gourd plant roots and shoots inclined by an average of 33, 28, 11, 21, 18 and 22%, respectively. In plants irrigated with saline water, leaf count was raised successively (23–115%) with increasing concentration of FeSO4 (0.025-0.1 ppm) compared to stress only plants. The use of FeSO4 boosted sponge gourd growth characteristics in both normal and salt-affected soils compared to respective controls. The application of Iron sulfate under salt stress boosted photosynthetic indices such as chlorophyll a (22%), chlorophyll b (34%), carotenoids (16%), and total chlorophyll levels (22%). Iron sulfate application also exhibited incline in primary (total free amino acids, 50%; total soluble proteins, 46%) and secondary (total phenolics, 9%; flavonoid content, 51%) metabolites in salt-affected soils. Oxidative enzymatic activities such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and DPPH scavenging activity (36%) were also increased by foliar spray of FeSO4 in control and salt stressed L. cylindrica plants. FeSO4 had a considerable impact on the growth and development of Luffa cylindrica in normal and salt-affected soils. It is concluded that FeSO4 application can effectively remediate salt affected soil and improve the production of crop plants.
format Article
id doaj-art-9901915afa3a4d64a4d2475b5d2c9501
institution OA Journals
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-9901915afa3a4d64a4d2475b5d2c95012025-08-20T02:18:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-10-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-77182-3Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stressMuhammad Waqas0Naila Ali1Zaib-un-Nisa2Muhammad Yasin Ashraf3Sheeraz Usman4Anis Ali Shah5Vaseem Raja6Mohamed A. El-Sheikh7Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of LahoreInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of LahoreInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of LahoreInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of LahoreDepartment of Botany, Division of Science and Technology , University of EducationDepartment of Botany, Division of Science and Technology , University of EducationUniversity Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh UniversityBotany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud UniversityAbstract Salt stress is becoming a major issue for the world’s environment and agriculture economy. Different iron [Fe] sources can give an environmentally friendly alternative for salt-affected soil remediation. In this study the effects of Iron sulfate on Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) cultivated in normal and saline water irrigated soil were examined. When FeSO4 (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 ppm) were applied to salt affected soil, the length, fresh and dry biomass of sponge gourd plant roots and shoots inclined by an average of 33, 28, 11, 21, 18 and 22%, respectively. In plants irrigated with saline water, leaf count was raised successively (23–115%) with increasing concentration of FeSO4 (0.025-0.1 ppm) compared to stress only plants. The use of FeSO4 boosted sponge gourd growth characteristics in both normal and salt-affected soils compared to respective controls. The application of Iron sulfate under salt stress boosted photosynthetic indices such as chlorophyll a (22%), chlorophyll b (34%), carotenoids (16%), and total chlorophyll levels (22%). Iron sulfate application also exhibited incline in primary (total free amino acids, 50%; total soluble proteins, 46%) and secondary (total phenolics, 9%; flavonoid content, 51%) metabolites in salt-affected soils. Oxidative enzymatic activities such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and DPPH scavenging activity (36%) were also increased by foliar spray of FeSO4 in control and salt stressed L. cylindrica plants. FeSO4 had a considerable impact on the growth and development of Luffa cylindrica in normal and salt-affected soils. It is concluded that FeSO4 application can effectively remediate salt affected soil and improve the production of crop plants.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77182-3
spellingShingle Muhammad Waqas
Naila Ali
Zaib-un-Nisa
Muhammad Yasin Ashraf
Sheeraz Usman
Anis Ali Shah
Vaseem Raja
Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stress
Scientific Reports
title Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stress
title_full Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stress
title_fullStr Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stress
title_full_unstemmed Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stress
title_short Impact of iron sulfate (FeSO4) foliar application on growth, metabolites and antioxidative defense of Luffa cylindrica (Sponge gourd) under salt stress
title_sort impact of iron sulfate feso4 foliar application on growth metabolites and antioxidative defense of luffa cylindrica sponge gourd under salt stress
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77182-3
work_keys_str_mv AT muhammadwaqas impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress
AT nailaali impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress
AT zaibunnisa impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress
AT muhammadyasinashraf impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress
AT sheerazusman impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress
AT anisalishah impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress
AT vaseemraja impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress
AT mohamedaelsheikh impactofironsulfatefeso4foliarapplicationongrowthmetabolitesandantioxidativedefenseofluffacylindricaspongegourdundersaltstress