title: Effect of calcium and potassium on antioxidant system of Vicia faba L. Under cadmium stress.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) in soil poses a major threat to plant growth and productivity. In the present experiment, we studied the effect of calcium (Ca(2+)) and/or potassium (K(+)) on the antioxidant system, accumulation of proline (Pro), malondialdehyde (MDA), and content of photosynthetic pigments, cadmium (Cd) and nutrients, i.e., Ca(2+) and K(+) in leaf of Vicia faba L. (cv. TARA) under Cd stress. Plants grown in the presence of Cd exhibited reduced growth traits [root length (RL) plant(-1), shoot length (SL) plant(-1), root fresh weight (RFW) plant(-1), shoot fresh weight (SFW) plant(-1), root dry weight (RDW) plant(-1) and shoot dry weight (SDW) plant(-1)] and concentration of Ca(2+), K(+), Chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b content, except content of MDA, Cd and (Pro). The antioxidant enzymes [peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] slightly increased as compared to control under Cd stress. However, a significant improvement was observed in all growth traits and content of Ca(2+), K(+), Chl a, Chl b, Pro and activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), POD and SOD in plants subjected to Ca(2+) and/or K(+). The maximum alleviating effect was recorded in the plants grown in medium containing Ca(2+) and K(+) together. This study indicates that the application of Ca(2+) and/or K(+) had a significant and synergistic effect on plant growth. Also, application of Ca(2+) and/or K(+) was highly effective against the toxicity of Cd by improving activity of antioxidant enzymes and solute that led to the enhanced plant growth of faba bean plants.
authors: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Manzer H
authors: MH
authors: Siddiqui
authors: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohamed H
authors: MH
authors: Al-Whaibi
authors: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ahmed M
authors: AM
authors: Sakran
authors: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammed O
authors: MO
authors: Basalah
authors: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Hayssam M
authors: HM
authors: Ali
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry*; D004777:Environment; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010858:Pigmentation; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D031307:Vicia faba / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002104:Cadmium; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium