Defatted coagulant seeds of Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrena mediate alleviation of cadmium toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plant

Abstract

Contaminated soil with toxic heavy metals, particularly cadmium, is an environmental originated challenge from various industrial activities such as effluents and mining and affecting crop growth. Cadmium removal from the soil is a problem, therefore we introduced our approach for reinforcing cadmium tolerance in wheat plant by applying powder (1g/kg soil) of fat-free seeds 'defatted seed or seed-cake' from Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrena trees before wheat exposure to three levels of soil contamination with cadmium in soil solution (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM) for 35 days. Our data showed that accumulation of Cd in wheat was concentration-dependent and was 4-folds higher in roots than in the shoots. In shoots and roots, cadmium accumulation was 3-and 2-folds higher at 1.5 mM Cd, respectively. Shoot length and dry mass have reduced by 30 and 58%, respectively. In addition, the photosynthetic pigments have decreased by 50% and the protein profile was altered in leaf. Moringa defatted seeds powder had conferred protection against cadmium toxicity in wheat. Upon defatted seeds pre-treatments, Cd accumulation has diminished by 3 and 2-folds in shoots and roots, respectively and wheat growth and physiological parameters have improved spectacularly. Protein polymorphism and SDS-gel electrophoresis confirmed the appearance of eight newly expressed protein bands in response to Moringa pre-treatments in absence of Cd. Eleven new bands were also expressed under the combined effect of cadmium and Moringa together in wheat leaf and weighed: 261.38, 217.77, 177.38, 135.4, 114.0, 97.0, 74.14, 51.6, 38.2, 24.0 and 13.5 KDa. We believed that the new bands have participated with wheat tolerance. In conclusion, we suggested two strategies: first, Moringa seeds have coagulated cadmium in the soil preventing its absorption and accumulation in wheat plants. Second, wheat newly expressed protein has assisted cadmium detoxification via binding to some peptides, and/or through sequestrating cadmium in the vacuole as metallothioneins and/or polychelatins.

Role of natural coagulants in the removal of heavy metals from different wastewaters: principal mechanisms, applications, challenges, and prospects

“…The results suggest that Moringa oleifera seeds are a natural coagulant that may treat water containing the unwanted concentration of heavy metals and ensure poultry meat is safe for consumption. Interestingly, Hassanein et al (2017) investigated the remediation of chromium-contaminated soil for agricultural purposes by adding (1 g/Kg) of Moringa oleifera. The results showed that powdered Moringa seeds protected the wheat crop against cadmium toxicity.…”

ROLE OF Moringa oleifera SEEDS EXTRACT IN ELIMINATING SOIL AND WATER CONTAMINATION USING LETTUCE PLANTS AS INDICATOR

“…Besides synthetic chemicals, there are natural ingredients that can be derived from tropical plants which can be used as coagulants, including moringa seeds (Moringa oleifera). Hassanein et al, (2017) reported that moringa defatted seeds powder had conferred protection against cadmium toxicity in wheat. Upon defatted seeds pre-treatments, Cd accumulation has diminished by 3 and 2-folds in shoots and roots, respectively and wheat growth and physiological parameters have improved spectacularly.…”

Effects of aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extract on growth performance and accumulation of cadmium in a Thai jasmine rice-Khao Dawk Mali 105 variety

“…In plants, the application of Moringa oleifera leaf extract improved the antioxidant enzyme system of wheat plants under salt stress, improving their performance signi cantly (Yasmeen et al 2013). In a Cd contaminated environment, not only did Moringa coagulate Cd in the soil and thereby prevent its absorption and accumulation in wheat plants, but it also in uenced the expression of genes associated with alleviation of metal toxicity (Hassanein et al 2016).…”