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Abstract\nNovelty statementHigh fluoride (F) concentrations negatively affect the seed germination, plant growth, development, and yield of crops. Phaseolus vulgaris L. is an F-sensitive crop frequently grown on marginal lands affected by F salts. Selenium (Se) is a vital elicitor of the antioxidative enzymes involved in scavenging free radicals to alleviate abiotic stress. Recent studies have demonstrated that engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to induce tolerance to abiotic stress in plants. Phytosynthesis of NPs is a novel and sustainable approach to mitigate abiotic stresses. The present study was intended to assess the role of green synthesized Se-nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in improving the physiochemical attributes, growth, and F stress tolerance of P. vulgaris growing in 200 ppm sodium fluoride (NaF) stress. NaF toxicity reduced Chl a, Chl b, and carotenoid content by 88.8%, 95.5%, and 96% compared to control with maximum improvement obtained through phyto-nano seed priming and foliar spray of 70 ppm Se-NPs. The joint treatment of NPs application through seed priming and foliar spray improved stomatal conductance (14.2%) and transpiration rate (11.7%) in plants subjected to NaF stress. The protein content (91.02%) and DPPH activity (33.72%) decreased under NaF stress, which was improved by phyto-nano seed priming and foliar spray (14.10%). Furthermore, the integrated application of Se-NPs seed priming and foliar spray increased nutritional content (P, K, Ca, Mg, and Zn), proline, ascorbic acid, and phenol yet reduced the level of NaF in plants. Se-NPs at 70 ppm were found to be more effective than 60 ppm in all modes of applications. Our results reveal a perception that Se-NPs increase P. vulgaris growth in NaF stress conditions, perhaps through a multipronged approach: improving photosynthetic content, nutrient uptake, and yield of P. vulgaris. Consequently, the findings of this study may be used for breeding and screening F-tolerant cultivars.Most previous studies have examined how selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) enable plants to cope with environmental stresses. Nevertheless, we apply Se-NPs via seed priming and foliar application. Our findings demonstrated the promising function of exogenously managed Se-NPs in reducing sodium fluoride (NaF) stress and enhancing Phaseolus vulgaris seedling development. The results of this study support the application of green synthesized Se-NPs to alleviate stress in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing levels of cadmium (Cd) pollution in agricultural soil reduces plant growth and yield. This study aims to determine the impact of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the physiochemical activities, nutrition, growth, and yield of Zea mays L. under Cd stress conditions. For this purpose, ZnO-NPs (450 ppm and 600 ppm) synthesized from Syzygium aromaticum were applied through foliar spray to Z. mays and also used as seed priming agents. A significant decline in plant height (35.24%), biomass production (43.86%), mineral content, gas exchange attributes, and yield (37.62%) was observed in Cd-spiked plants compared to the control. While, 450 ppm ZnO-NPs primed seed increased plant height (18.46%), total chlorophyll (80.07%), improved ascorbic acid (25.10%), DPPH activity (26.66%), and soil mineral uptake (Mg+2 (38.86%), K+ (27.83%), and Zn+2 (43.68%) as compared to plants only spiked with Cd. On the contrary, the foliar-applied 450 ppm ZnO-NPs increased plant height (8.22%), total chlorophyll content (73.59%), ascorbic acid (21.39%), and DPPH activity (17.61%) and yield parameters; cob diameter (19.45%), and kernels numbers 6.35% enhanced compared to plants that were spiked only with Cd. The findings of the current study pave the way for safer and more cost-effective crop production in Cd-stressed soils by using green synthesized NPs and provide deep insights into the underlying mechanisms of NPs treatment at the molecular level to provide compelling evidence for the use of NPs in improving plant growth and yield. NOVELTY STATEMENT: Novelty statement: Phyto zinc nanoparticles improve stress tolerance and growth of Zea mays under cadmium stress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A major issue around the world, particularly in arid regions, is the salinization of arable land, which has a deleterious impact on plants and poses a threat to the world's food supply. Fluoride is an extremely harmful contamination in soil that destroys crops on a large scale. Nevertheless, Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) growth is continuously declining due to the salinity issue. Fenugreek has a wide range of pharmaceutical significance and contains many essential minerals. Methods: Seed priming with salicylic acid is therefore a remarkably efficient way to increase fenugreek production in salinity-affected soils. The effects of sodium fluoride (200 ppm NaF) on fenugreek were investigated in a pot experiment. The fenugreek seeds were primed with 5, 10, and 15 µmol L-1 of salicylic acid. Results: NaF was found to substantially reduce the length of the shoot (17.3 %) and root (39.5 %) in addition to reducing the area of the leaf (31.9 %) and root nodules (24.7 %), when compared to the control seedlings. NaF also caused reductions in photosynthetic pigments, stomatal conductance (40 %), transpiration rate (41.1 %), and photosynthetic rate (32.2 %). Salicylic acid primed seed reduced the salinity stress by improved growth along with enhanced production of proline (94.5 %). Conclusions: The treatment with SA2 (10 mol L-1 ) had the most significant effect on fenugreek biomass, total chlorophyll content (62.3 %), and gas exchange parameters in control as well as NaF-stressed seedlings suggesting that exogenous SA could be employed to improve plant tolerance to NaF stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Soil salinity is an emerging threat to plant growth and crop production, resulting in substantial economic losses. Pea is one of the most important leguminous crops being grown all over the world being affected. Keeping in view the stress alleviation of glutathione, current investigation was designed to evaluate the beneficial role of seed priming with glutathione on morphological and biochemical attributes of pea under sodium fluoride stress. Methods: For this purpose, pea seeds primed with 25, 50, and 70 µM L-1 glutathione. Sodium fluoride caused a significant decline in seed germination percentage, root and shoot length. Glutathione primed seed improved the fresh and dry biomass, root nodules and proline content of Pea plant. Results: The 50uM-1 enhanced the growth rate by 50%, photosynthetic rate by 93% under NaF stress. Glutathione primed seed also enhanced the gas exchange parameters, i.e., transpiration rate and stomatal conductance, by 80% and 89%, respectively. Conclusions: Consequently, the results of the current study demonstrated that seed priming with glutathione can reduce the sodium fluoride stress and improved the growth of pea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Anthropogenic factors have become the dominant cause of environmental pollution particularly salinity in soils resulting in alternation in plant's physiological and biochemical responses. Salinity-induced stress deleteriously affects crop productivity and has damaged about 6 million hectares in Pakistan. Sodium fluoride (NaF) has emerged as a prominent source of salinity stress and its accumulation in crops has become a major concern worldwide. Seed priming has marked its position as a beneficial technique for salt stress attenuation in various crops. Methods: The current research work was intended to scrutinize the valuable aspect of seed priming with 28-homobrassinolide (HBR) on morphological and biochemical attributes of Pisum sativum L. (pea) plants under NaF stress. P. sativum seeds were subjected to seed priming with three different concentrations of HBR (1µM, 5µM, and 10µM L-1). Results: Sodium fluoride-induced toxicity exhibited a significant decline in the growth of pea plants. The results showed that NaF negatively affected total chlorophyll content (25%), stomatal conductance (28%), and rate of transpiration (46%) and photosynthetic rate (28%) as compared to Control. Nevertheless, seed priming with HBR2 enhanced carotenoid content (65%) and consequent improvement in shoot length (64%), and root's dry biomass (59%) of plants as compared to Control plants were ascertained. All three treatments improved the above-mentioned traits but a maximum increment was observed in response to 5µM L-1HBR treatment as compared to the Control. Furthermore, HBR2 improved the gas exchange parameters and proline content (74%) under stress conditions. Conclusions: Although, plants under saline stress demonstrated a decline in morpho-physiological attributes of pea plants but these deleterious effects of salinity were alleviated by HBR priming of the pea seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chromium toxicity negatively affected physiochemical activities and growth of Pisum sativum. • Seed priming with triacontanol (TRIA) mitigated Cr stress. • TRIA enhanced nutrition, photosynthetic and DPPH activity of plants from primed seeds. • Plants from TRIA primed seeds exhibited improved growth and reduced Cr content in plant. Chromium (Cr) is one of the most phytotoxic elements. Its level in agricultural soil is rising alarmingly, mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Triacontanol (TRIA), a plant growth regulator, promotes a variety of metabolic processes that improve plant growth and development. Current study elucidates the metal stress attenuation potential of TRIA in Pisum sativum (pea) seedlings growing in Cr contaminated conditions. For this purpose, soil was contaminated with Cr (100 mg kg−1) by using K 2 Cr 2 O 7. Three concentrations of TRIA (10, 20, and 30 μmol L−1) were used to prime P. sativum seeds, which subsequently grown in control and Cr-spiked soil. When exposed to Cr, P. sativum exhibited stunted growth, retarded photosynthetic activity, and chlorophyll pigment production. Growth suppression in Cr-treated plants was also ascribed to reduced mineral content (K+, Na+, Zn2+, and Mg2+), gas exchange characteristics, and reduced DPPH activity. Plants grown from TRIA-treated seeds exhibited increased growth, decreased loss of photosynthetic pigments, and reduced oxidative stress mediated by Cr through improving non-enzymatic antioxidants such as proline, phenolics, and carotenoids. Nevertheless, plants developed from seeds primed with 20 μmol L−1 TRIA showed enhanced growth, fresh and dry biomass, gas exchange characteristics, and improved uptake of mineral ions. According to the current study, seed priming with TRIA ameliorates Cr-toxicity and enables P. sativum cultivation in Cr-contaminated environment. TRIA1 and TRIA3 treatment also reduced Cr intake by 26.1 % and 16 % respectively in comparison to Cr- alone treatment. These results improve the understanding of the TRIA-related stress mitigation pathway in P. sativum crops. Additionally, a study about the potential of TRIA to reduce stress in other agronomic and horticultural crops will help to increase crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress is a major abiotic stress that affects the world's agricultural soils and crop yield, the system that ensures food production. In the present study, three different concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (250, 500 and 750 ZnO NPs mg L−1) were applied by soil drenching. The treatments aimed to improve the phytochemical characteristics of Lagenaria siceraria L. (bottle gourd) by lowering the oxidative stress brought on by salinity stress (200 ppm NaF). Green synthesised ZnO NPs were prepared, having hexagonal and spherical shapes and sizes 16–35 nm. Salt stress reduced fresh and dry biomass of plants and improved production of proline. ZnO NPs improved antioxidant response by enhancing catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities, and protecting cellular structures by eliminating free radicals and reactive oxygen species. The 500 mg L−1 ZnO NPs treatment improved total chlorophyll (31%), total soluble sugars (23%) and maintained the gas exchange parameters under salt stress. This treatment also enhanced the biosynthesis of osmotic regulators (proline) by 19%, Na+ by 22% and Zn2+ by 17%, assisting mitigation of salt stress-mediated toxicity in plants. This study demonstrates that ZnO NP-treated seedlings show improved growth attributes, suggesting that ZnO NPs could be advantageous for L. siceraria cultivation in salt polluted areas and could be utilised in place of conventional Zn fertiliser for better crop yield. Salt toxicity negatively affected physiochemical activities and growth of bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria L. Application of zinc oxide nanoparticless mitigated salt stress and enhanced biochemical stress-markers and antioxidant activity of plants. Plants treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited improved growth and reduced salt toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal toxicity is a major environmental issue that affects all life forms, including plants. The accumulation of lead (Pb) in agricultural soils is a significant contributor to reduced crop yields, and it poses serious health risks to people who consume lead-contaminated agricultural products. The current study was undertaken to investigate the beneficial effects of glutathione (GSH) on the amelioration of stress induced by Pb (300 mg kg−1 Pb) in Brassica rapa L. (turnip). For this purpose, B. rapa seeds primed with 25, 50, and 75 µmol L−1. The root and shoot length, seedling biomass, and leaf area, was reduced under Pb stress. Lead toxicity inhibited the net photosynthetic rate (31.36%), total chlorophyll content (74.54%) of B. rapa plants in comparison to control. Lead-stressed plants additionally exhibited changes in proline levels, as well as lower levels of total soluble protein and phenolic content. Nevertheless, seed priming with GSH resulted in higher concentrations of the nutritional content (Mg+2, Zn+2, Na+, K+) that increased Pb stress tolerance. The GSH2 treated seed enhanced the photosynthetic rate (46.34%), stomatal conductance (80.55%), and transpiration rate (53.125%) over Pb stress. Furthermore, GSH2 enhanced total soluble proteins (37.75%), phenolic content (58.38%), and DPPH (1.5fold) of turnip plant over control seedlings. According to our research, GSH2 primed B. rapa seed demonstrated a reduction in Pb toxicity, which could be used to help seedling establishment in soils contaminated with Pb. Numerous studies highlight the advantages of plant growth regulators for agricultural crop development and productivity. Nevertheless, we know remarkably little about the role of glutathione as a seed-priming agent in vegetable crops. Additionally, little is known about how glutathione affects the physiological traits, nutrient content, and growth of B. rapa L. (turnip) under lead stress. Therefore, the goal of this work was to evaluate how exogenously applied glutathione improved the agronomic traits, physiochemical characteristics, and nutrient content of B. rapa L. under lead stress. Schematic diagram showing the effect of glutathione on growth and physiochemical parameters of B. rapa grown in Pb-toxic soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Consequence of Pb stress and NaHS growth regulator on morphological and anatomical features of mamodica charantia. • Antioxidants were checked. • Application of NaHS under the exposure to Pb stress significantly improved physica and biochemical structures of M. charantia. • Melatonin and other oxidants were alleviated in stress environment. Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal that contaminates soil and water resources after its discharge from different industries. This research study was held to check the consequence of Pb stress and NaHS growth regulator on physicochemical features of Mamodica charantia. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of NaHS (1 Mm and 1.5 Mm) for the screening of M. charantia exposed to severe Pb (500 ppm,1000 ppm and 2000 ppm) stress. Our results depicted that maximum growth of plants was recorded at 1.5 mM concentration, while inhibition was observed in the plants of M. charantia at highest concentration of lead chloride (2000 ppm). Significant positive change in agronomical structures of bitter melon like leaf, root, shoot, branches, root length and shoot length recorded at high concentration of NaHS growth regulator (1.5 mM). In case of lead stress study, plants show reduction in growth and development due to production of ROS species. ROS species reduced the concentration of divalent cations such Zn2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Fe2+ by restricting the flow of water. Leaves of M. charantia had lessen carotenoid and chlorophylls and enhanced activity of chlorophyllase in leaves. Biological content of antioxidants (CAT and POD), Protein and Proline were found maximum in NaHS treated plants while minimum in stressed plants. Nutrient content of root and shoot (K, Na and Ca) and morphological characteristics also behaved differently on different concentration of NaHS and Pb stress. Here, we concluded that the application of NaHS under the exposure to Pb stress significantly improved physiological and biochemical structures of M. charantia. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]