Seed Priming by Trehalose Improves Tolerance of Maize Seedlings by improving the growth and physiological parameters under Cadmium Toxicity

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution poses a significant environmental challenge, adversely impacting global crop yields and posing health risks to humans. Cadmium (Cd), a non-essential and highly phytotoxic metal, poses substantial harm to overall plant metabolism even at minimal concentrations. The current research aimed to evaluate the beneficial impacts regarding priming of seeds of trehalose upon the development of cells able to photosynthesis traits, biochemical, and physiological and antioxidant defense systems among two variety of maize (FH-1046 and FH-5724) under Cd stress. For this purpose, a pot experiment was carried out in the University of Education Lahore, Faisalabad campus. After two weeks, growth parameters, biochemical and Cd concentration were examined. Results revealed that Cd significantly reduced the growth and maize variety FH5427 showed better growth as compared with FH1046. Chlorophyll contents also decreased under Cd stress and trehalose improved the photosynthetic efficiency under Cd stress. Carbohydrates and protein contents also reduced under Cd stress and trehalose significantly ameliorated the Cd stress in both maize varieties. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were greater under Cd stress and lower in trehalose treated group. This clearly showed the Cd alleviation potential of trehalose in maize plants. Trehalose also inhibits the movement of Cd into shoot from root system. Results also showed that Cd stress significantly decreased the growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and biochemical characteristics of two maize cultivars. However, the seeds treated with trehalose solution significantly reduce the impact of Cd stress. Moreover, it also enhances photosynthetic activity, enzymatic activities in requisites of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) and decreases the reactive oxygen species. The study suggests that priming maize seeds with trehalose could be effectively utilized in agricultural settings to enhance plant tolerance to cadmium stress.