Abstract
Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and putrescine (Put) have shown a promising role in the mitigation of abiotic stresses in plants. The present study was anticipated to elucidate the potential of Bacillus thuringiensis IAGS 199 and Put in mitigation of cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity in Capsicum annum. Cadmium toxicity decreased growth, photosynthetic rate, gas exchange attributes and activity of antioxidant enzymes in C. annum seedlings. Moreover, higher levels of protein and non-protein bound thiols besides increased Cd contents were also observed in Cd-stressed plants. B. thuringiensis IAGS 199 and Put, alone or in combination, reduced electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in treated plants. Synergistic effect of B. thuringiensis IAGS 199 and Put significantly enhanced the activity of stress-responsive enzymes including peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, Put and microbial interaction enhanced the amount of proline, soluble sugars, and total soluble proteins in C. annum plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Data obtained during the current study advocates that application of B. thuringiensis IAGS 199 and Put establish a synergistic role in the mitigation of Cd-induced stress through modulating physiochemical features of C. annum plants.
Highlights
Cadmium is one of the environmental toxicants that hampers the growth of numerous crops.Cadmium is present in color pigments, PVC products and Ni-Cd batteries
The results of our experiments showed that B. thuringiensis IAGS 199, alone or in combination with Put, reduced Cd uptake in shoots of C. annum seedlings
The results of the current study demonstrate that the presence of Cd in the rhizospheric area has detrimental effects on germination, seedling growth and biomass production of C. annum
Summary
Cadmium is one of the environmental toxicants that hampers the growth of numerous crops.Cadmium is present in color pigments, PVC products and Ni-Cd batteries. The increasing Cd contents in soil owing to anthropogenic and natural resources have a detrimental effect on physiochemical attributes causing reduced crop growth and biomass production [5,6]. Biochemical such as C–O bonds, protein-containing thiol groups, amine groups and carbonyl are involved in Cd uptake and accumulation in plants [7]. Cadmium decreases the concentration of essential mineral nutrients by declining their uptake and translocation as it obstructs the entry of these nutrients [9] It decreases thye production of chlorophyll in plants [10,11,12]. This toxic metal demonstrates a resilient affinity with sulfhydryl moiety of enzymes and enhances the biosynthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
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