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Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Cadmium and lead excess differently affect growth, photosynthetic activity and nutritional status of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Fadwa Melki A B , Ons Talbi Zribi C , Sabrine Jeder A B , Faten Louati A , Issam Nouairi A , Haythem Mhadhbi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0786-4269 A and Kais Zribi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8856-9573 A *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Laboratory of Legumes and Sustainable Agrosystems, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.

B Faculty of Sciences of Gabes, University of Gabes, City of Erriadh, Zrig, 6072 Gabes, Tunisia.

C Laboratory of Extremophiles Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, B.P. 901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.

* Correspondence to: kais.zribi@cbbc.rnrt.tn

Handling Editor: Shahid Hussain

Crop & Pasture Science - https://doi.org/10.1071/CP21583
Submitted: 7 June 2021  Accepted: 21 September 2021   Published online: 14 February 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context: Heavy metal contamination of soils is a serious environmental problem worldwide. Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are considered among the most important types of pollutants.

Aim: To investigate the response of a local fenugreek cultivar against lead and cadmium.

Methods: Physiological changes were studied under different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 μM) of PbCl2 and CdCl2.

Key results: Fenugreek growth decreased gradually with increasing Cd and Pb supply. This decrease was accompanied by a gradual decline in shoot and root length and photosynthetic parameters. However, Cd treatments showed pronounced effects in fenugreek seedlings as compared to Pb. The tolerance index was between 0.41 and 0.81, which suggests relative tolerance of this cultivar to Pb and Cd. This species was also able to maintain stable water status. Nevertheless, in presence of high Cd concentration (400 μM), this species showed substantial decrease in CO2 assimilation (86%), transpiration rate (87%), stomatal conductance (57%), chlorophyll content (35%) and carotenoid content (53%). Shoot proline content was increased significantly under 200 and 300 μM Cd, and slightly under 100 and 200 μM Pb. Furthermore, Cd and Pb induced a decrease in shoot magnesium and phosphorus content. Conversely, shoot iron content was increased. Data showed that fenugreek accumulated Cd, and translocated to the harvestable parts (up to 20 mg/kg DW under 400 μM). However, Pb was mostly accumulated in roots.

Conclusions: Our results revealed that the relative tolerance of fenugreek to Pb excess was coupled to a remarkable accumulation of this element in root, which favourite the phytostabilisation process.

Implications: FM, FL, SJ and OTZ execute the manipulation and the culture of plants. FM, OTZ, IN and KZ analyse and examine obtained results. FM, OTZ and KZ write and preparethe manuscript. IN, HM and KZ prepare the conception and the realisation ofthis work.

Keywords: fenugreek, heavy metals, legumes, mineral nutrients, photosynthesis, phytostabilisation, plant physiology, plant pigments, plant tolerance to heavy metal stress, soil contamination.


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