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Nitrate improves hackberry seedling growth under cadmium application
Mansoure Hatamian1, Abdolhossein Rezaei Nejad1, Mohsen Kafi2
1Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
Heliyon
|January 30, 2020
Summary
Hackberry seedlings exhibit tolerance to cadmium, with nitrate application positively influencing growth and physiological traits. This study highlights nitrate
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Plant Physiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Heavy metal contamination, particularly cadmium (Cd), poses environmental risks.
- Plant species exhibit varying tolerance levels to heavy metals.
- Strategies to mitigate heavy metal toxicity in plants are crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactive effects of nitrate and cadmium on hackberry (Celtis australis L.) seedlings.
- To assess the impact of cadmium and nitrate treatments on hackberry's physiological and growth parameters.
- To determine hackberry's tolerance to cadmium exposure under different nitrate levels.
Main Methods:
- Factorial experiment with completely randomized design and four replications.
- Application of varying nitrate (0, 50, 100 mg/L) and cadmium (0, 5 mg/L) levels via irrigation over two years.
- Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine treatment effects on various physiological and growth traits.
Main Results:
- Cadmium significantly reduced stomatal water conductance and photosynthesis but increased transpiration, root/stem fresh weights, leaf Cd, and proline.
- Nitrate consistently enhanced leaf nitrate, new shoot growth, leaf biomass, root fresh weight, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis, reducing leaf necrosis.
- Cadmium-nitrate interaction significantly affected leaf Cd concentration, root dry weight, carotenoids, and leaf dry weight.
Conclusions:
- Hackberry seedlings demonstrate tolerance to high cadmium levels, with growth primarily influenced by nitrate availability.
- Nitrate application mitigates some negative effects of cadmium and promotes overall seedling health.
- Celtis australis L. is a promising ornamental species for environments with potential cadmium contamination.
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