Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessment

In recent years, the use of priming agents, such as silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid has gained significant attention for their role in mitigating abiotic stresses across various plant species. While previous research has been conducted on the individual impact...

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Main Authors: Jing Ma, Ming Zou, Willie Peijnenburg, Fu Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325002350
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author Jing Ma
Ming Zou
Willie Peijnenburg
Fu Chen
author_facet Jing Ma
Ming Zou
Willie Peijnenburg
Fu Chen
author_sort Jing Ma
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the use of priming agents, such as silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid has gained significant attention for their role in mitigating abiotic stresses across various plant species. While previous research has been conducted on the individual impact of silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid in metal stress resistance among various crop species, their combined effects in the context of heavy metal stressed conditions remain underexplored. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings was grown under the toxic concentration of copper (Cu) i.e., 100 µM which were applied with silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid under hydroponic conditions for 21 days. The research outcomes indicated that the toxic concentration of Cu in the nutrient solution notably reduced plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange attributes. However, Cu stress also induced oxidative stress in the plants by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which also induced increased compounds of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, health risk index (HRI) and also the gene expression and sugar content. Furthermore, a significant increase in proline metabolism, the AsA–GSH cycle, and the pigmentation of cellular components was observed. Although, the application of different priming agents, such as silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid showed a significant increase in plant growth and biomass, gas exchange characteristics, enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds, and their gene expression and also decreased oxidative stress and HRI. In addition, the application of different priming agents enhanced cellular fractionation and decreased the proline metabolism and AsA-GSH cycle in T. aestivum seedlings. These results open new insights for sustainable agriculture practices and hold immense promise in addressing the pressing challenges of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils.
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spelling doaj-art-c2b0546170434eb4af250c0121e8a09f2025-08-20T02:04:00ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-02-0129111789910.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117899Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessmentJing Ma0Ming Zou1Willie Peijnenburg2Fu Chen3School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211000, ChinaSchool of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211000, ChinaInstitute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RA, the Netherland; Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, 3720 BA, the Netherland; Corresponding author at: Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RA, the Netherlands.School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211000, China; Observation Research Station of Land Ecology and Land Use in the Yangtze River Delta, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanjing 210009, China; Corresponding author at: School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211000, China.In recent years, the use of priming agents, such as silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid has gained significant attention for their role in mitigating abiotic stresses across various plant species. While previous research has been conducted on the individual impact of silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid in metal stress resistance among various crop species, their combined effects in the context of heavy metal stressed conditions remain underexplored. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings was grown under the toxic concentration of copper (Cu) i.e., 100 µM which were applied with silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid under hydroponic conditions for 21 days. The research outcomes indicated that the toxic concentration of Cu in the nutrient solution notably reduced plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange attributes. However, Cu stress also induced oxidative stress in the plants by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which also induced increased compounds of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, health risk index (HRI) and also the gene expression and sugar content. Furthermore, a significant increase in proline metabolism, the AsA–GSH cycle, and the pigmentation of cellular components was observed. Although, the application of different priming agents, such as silicon, melatonin, salicylic acid, glycine betaine, and ascorbic acid showed a significant increase in plant growth and biomass, gas exchange characteristics, enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds, and their gene expression and also decreased oxidative stress and HRI. In addition, the application of different priming agents enhanced cellular fractionation and decreased the proline metabolism and AsA-GSH cycle in T. aestivum seedlings. These results open new insights for sustainable agriculture practices and hold immense promise in addressing the pressing challenges of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325002350Priming agentsMetal stressNutrient solutionWheatProline
spellingShingle Jing Ma
Ming Zou
Willie Peijnenburg
Fu Chen
Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessment
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Priming agents
Metal stress
Nutrient solution
Wheat
Proline
title Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessment
title_full Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessment
title_fullStr Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessment
title_full_unstemmed Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessment
title_short Priming agents combat copper stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under hydroponic conditions: Insights in impacts on morpho–physio–biochemical traits and health risk assessment
title_sort priming agents combat copper stress in wheat triticum aestivum l under hydroponic conditions insights in impacts on morpho physio biochemical traits and health risk assessment
topic Priming agents
Metal stress
Nutrient solution
Wheat
Proline
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325002350
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