Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Vicia Faba Plants to Foliar Application of Zinc and Iron

Abstract

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential nutrients for plant growth and development. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the role of Zn and Fe on vegetative growth, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, soluble protein, nitrate reductase (NR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), minerals content, amino acid composition fraction, isozymes, and protein electrophoresis in faba bean plants foliar sprayed with FeSO4 and ZnSO4. The results revealed that foliar spray with 1 or 3 g/L of FeSO4 and ZnSO4 significantly increased all the abovementioned parameters compared to control plants. The activity of esterase increased with increasing concentration of Fe and Zn as compared to control plants. The most pronounced increase was found in plants treated with 3 g/L ZnSO4. Three bands of peroxidase isozyme were exhibited with different densities and intensities in all treatments. Three types of modification were observed in the protein patterns of faba bean leaves. Some protein bands disappeared, while other increased and synthesis of a new set of proteins was induced. It could be concluded that foliar spray with the two concentrations (1 or 3 g/L) of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 helped faba bean plants to overcome the deficiency in these minerals by producing antioxidant enzymes. Improved faba bean growth through adequate Fe and Zn foliar spray is likely a promising strategy to improve Vicia faba plants.