title: Molybdenum (Mo) increases endogenous phenolics, proline and photosynthetic pigments and the phytoremediation potential of the industrially important plant Ricinus communis L. for removal of cadmium from contaminated soil.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soil negatively affects crops yield and compromises food safety. Remediation of polluted soil is necessary for the re-establishment of sustainable agriculture and to prevent hazards to human health and environmental pollution. Phytoremediation is a promising technology for decontamination of polluted soil. The present study investigated the effect of molybdenum (Mo) (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ppm) on endogenous production of total phenolics and free proline, plant biomass and photosynthetic pigments in Ricinus communis plants grown in Cd (25, 50 and 100 ppm) contaminated soils and the potential for Cd phytoextraction. Mo was applied via seed soaking, soil addition and foliar spray. Foliar sprays significantly increased plant biomass, Cd accumulation and bioconcentration. Phenolic concentrations showed significantly positive correlations with Cd accumulation in roots (R2= 0.793, 0.807 and 0.739) and leaves (R2= 0.707, 721 and 0.866). Similarly, proline was significantly positively correlated with Cd accumulation in roots (R2= 0.668, 0.694 and 0.673) and leaves (R2= 0.831, 0.964 and 0.930). Foliar application was found to be the most effective way to deliver Mo in terms of increase in plant growth, Cd accumulation and production of phenolics and proline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18800, Pakistan. dr.fhadi@uom.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Fazal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18800, Pakistan.|Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Science, Plymouth University, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK.
authors.forename: Michael Paul
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Fuller
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012278:Ricinus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D008982:Molybdenum; D011392:Proline
keywords: Bioconcentration factor; Foliar application of Mo; Heavy metal; Phytoextraction