Deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress

Abstract Cadmium (Cd), being one of the most toxic elements, exerts negative effects on plant growth and development. Ethylene (ET) has a prime significance in abiotic stress-induced cellular modulations and regulation of plant development. In the present study, seeds of a Cd-tolerant (NM-98) and -s...

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Main Authors: Aneeqa Munawar, Muhammad Sohail Akram, Shafaqat Ali, Pallab K. Sarker, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96375-y
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author Aneeqa Munawar
Muhammad Sohail Akram
Shafaqat Ali
Pallab K. Sarker
Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
author_facet Aneeqa Munawar
Muhammad Sohail Akram
Shafaqat Ali
Pallab K. Sarker
Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
author_sort Aneeqa Munawar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cadmium (Cd), being one of the most toxic elements, exerts negative effects on plant growth and development. Ethylene (ET) has a prime significance in abiotic stress-induced cellular modulations and regulation of plant development. In the present study, seeds of a Cd-tolerant (NM-98) and -sensitive (NM-28) genotype were primed using 50 µM ACC (ET precursor 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) and ET inhibitors (1 mM AVG/aminoethoxyvinylglycine, 0.5 mM PZA/pyrazinamide or 0.25 mM AgNO3/silver nitrate). Subsequently, these were allowed to grow in soil containing 0 or 50 µM CdCl2. After germination, ACC, AVG, PZA or AgNO3 was again applied, accordingly, as foliar spray. In NM-98, application of ACC resulted in reduced root fresh (38%) and dry (38%) weight, shoot fresh weight (39%), total phenolics (22%), catalase/CAT and peroxidase/POD activity (21% and 16%, respectively) under Cd stress. Contrarily, application of inhibitors (AVG, PZA and AgNO3), under Cd stress, improved plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments, total phenolics, total soluble proteins, activity of CAT and POD in NM-98 as compared to NM-28 genotype that exhibited opposite response. It was concluded that contrasting modulations observed in NM-98 and NM-28 towards exogenous ACC (or inhibitors) was linked with Cd-tolerance level of the two genotypes where exogenous ACC likely significantly raised endogenous ET level in NM-98 leading to disrupted antioxidants status and reduced growth. However, AVG, PZA and AgNO3 maintained ET levels and thus NM-98 exhibited less oxidative stress. Meanwhile, exogenous ACC assisted growth of NM-28 in Cd-stressed soil by modulating the antioxidative defence mechanism, possibly by maintaining endogenous ET concentrations. Further molecular-level research is recommended to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with each component of ET biosynthesis.
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spelling doaj-art-ded1528ae8944ce09bee97974bd6fca32025-08-20T03:52:20ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-96375-yDeciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stressAneeqa Munawar0Muhammad Sohail Akram1Shafaqat Ali2Pallab K. Sarker3Mohamed A. El-Sheikh4Department of Botany, Government College University FaisalabadDepartment of Botany, Government College University FaisalabadDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Government College University FaisalabadEnvironmental Studies Department, University of California Santa CruzBotany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud UniversityAbstract Cadmium (Cd), being one of the most toxic elements, exerts negative effects on plant growth and development. Ethylene (ET) has a prime significance in abiotic stress-induced cellular modulations and regulation of plant development. In the present study, seeds of a Cd-tolerant (NM-98) and -sensitive (NM-28) genotype were primed using 50 µM ACC (ET precursor 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) and ET inhibitors (1 mM AVG/aminoethoxyvinylglycine, 0.5 mM PZA/pyrazinamide or 0.25 mM AgNO3/silver nitrate). Subsequently, these were allowed to grow in soil containing 0 or 50 µM CdCl2. After germination, ACC, AVG, PZA or AgNO3 was again applied, accordingly, as foliar spray. In NM-98, application of ACC resulted in reduced root fresh (38%) and dry (38%) weight, shoot fresh weight (39%), total phenolics (22%), catalase/CAT and peroxidase/POD activity (21% and 16%, respectively) under Cd stress. Contrarily, application of inhibitors (AVG, PZA and AgNO3), under Cd stress, improved plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments, total phenolics, total soluble proteins, activity of CAT and POD in NM-98 as compared to NM-28 genotype that exhibited opposite response. It was concluded that contrasting modulations observed in NM-98 and NM-28 towards exogenous ACC (or inhibitors) was linked with Cd-tolerance level of the two genotypes where exogenous ACC likely significantly raised endogenous ET level in NM-98 leading to disrupted antioxidants status and reduced growth. However, AVG, PZA and AgNO3 maintained ET levels and thus NM-98 exhibited less oxidative stress. Meanwhile, exogenous ACC assisted growth of NM-28 in Cd-stressed soil by modulating the antioxidative defence mechanism, possibly by maintaining endogenous ET concentrations. Further molecular-level research is recommended to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with each component of ET biosynthesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96375-y1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acidCadmiumEthyleneInhibitorsMungbean
spellingShingle Aneeqa Munawar
Muhammad Sohail Akram
Shafaqat Ali
Pallab K. Sarker
Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
Deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress
Scientific Reports
1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid
Cadmium
Ethylene
Inhibitors
Mungbean
title Deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress
title_full Deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress
title_fullStr Deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress
title_full_unstemmed Deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress
title_short Deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress
title_sort deciphering morphological and biochemical modulations in mungbean by application of ethylene precursor and inhibitors under cadmium stress
topic 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid
Cadmium
Ethylene
Inhibitors
Mungbean
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96375-y
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