title: Biochar enhances the cadmium tolerance in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) through modification of Cd uptake and physiological and biochemical attributes.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) has no known role in plant biology and is toxic to plants and animals. The Cd mainly accumulated in agricultural soils through anthropogenic activities, such as sewage water irrigation and phosphorus fertilization. Biochar (BC) has been proposed as an amendment to reduce metal toxicity in plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of BC (cotton stick at a rate of 0, 3, and 5 %) on Cd uptake and the photosynthetic, physiological, and biochemical responses of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown in Cd-spiked soil (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg Cd kg-1soil). The results showed that Cd toxicity decreased growth, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange characteristics, and amino acid and protein contents in 52-day-old spinach seedlings. The Cd treatments increased the concentrations of Cd, sugar, ascorbic acid, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in plants. The application of BC ameliorated the harmful effects of Cd in spinach plants. Under Cd stress, BC application increased the growth, photosynthesis, and protein contents and decreased Cd concentrations and MDA contents in plants. The maximum BC-mediated increase in dry biomass was about 25 % with 5 % BC application in control plants. It is concluded that BC could ameliorate Cd toxic effects in spinach through changing the physiological and biochemical attributes under Cd stress.
authors: Department of Botany, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
authors: Uzma
authors: U
authors: Younis
authors: Department of Botany, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
authors: Saeed Ahmad
authors: SA
authors: Malik
authors: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Rizwan
authors: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan. farooq.qayyum@bzu.edu.pk.
authors: Muhammad Farooq
authors: MF
authors: Qayyum
authors: Korea Biochar Research Center, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea.
authors: Yong Sik
authors: YS
authors: Ok
authors: Department of Botany, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Hasnain Raza
authors: MH
authors: Shah
authors: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
authors: Rabia Abdur
authors: RA
authors: Rehman
authors: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
authors: Niaz
authors: N
authors: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C540010:biochar; D002104:Cadmium; D002606:Charcoal; D010758:Phosphorus
keywords: Cotton sticks; Pyrolysis; Trace metals; Vegetables