Sugarcane bagasse acts as a metal absorber in the rhizosphere in mitigating arsenic toxicity in wheat

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a hazardous element causing environmental pollution and yield loss in wheat. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is known to have metal detoxification efficiency in wastewater. However, the role of SCB in As elimination in plants was never investigated. This work examines the role, if any, of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) to alleviate As toxicity in wheat. The addition of SCB under As (V) stress showed significant improvement in shoot biomass, chlorophyll synthesis, membrane stability, total protein, and sugar concentration judged against As-stressed plants, suggesting that SCB is effective in As detoxification. Interestingly, the As-induced damage in the quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and photosynthesis performance index (Pi_ABS) significantly improved due to SCB treatment on As-stressed wheat. This further suggests that the antagonism of essential elements with As might be linked to the nutrient balance responsible for morpho-physiological improvement. Analysis of As in plant tissues and nutrient medium reveals that the adsorption efficiency of SCB is inversely proportioned to As translocation rate resulting in a significant decline of As in roots and shoot. It supports the physiological findings and suggests that the adsorption capacity of SCB leads to less available As in the nutrient medium for the wheat plants under As supplementation. Alongside this, H2O2 and lipid peroxidation significantly decreased subjected to SCB treatment under As. It is correlated with the increased antioxidant (CAT and SOD) activities of SCB in response to As toxicity. This study explores the novel and eco-friendly strategy through the potential application of SCB for the detoxification of crops and soil.