Exogenous gibberellic acid (GA₃) alleviates Lead-Induced phytotoxicity in brinjal

Lead (Pb) is a common environmental contaminant that poses a significant threat to plant growth and productivity. Gibberellic acid (GA₃), a phytohormone, is recognized for its role in promoting growth and alleviating abiotic stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of foliar GA₃ in mitigating Pb toxicity in two brinjal varieties (round and long). Conducted in February 2023 at the experimental area of Govt. College Women University, Faisalabad, the experiment involved planting ten seeds of each variety in pots, using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. Treatments included Pb at 100 and 150 mg/kg, GA₃ at 25 mg/L, and a control group. Results indicated that Pb treatment significantly reduced shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight, total soluble sugars, proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA), phenolics, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. However, the application of GA₃ (25 mg/L) effectively mitigated the negative effects of Pb, with more pronounced benefits observed in the round variety compared to the long variety. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that independent GA₃ treatment led to improved growth in the round variety when subjected to Pb stress.