Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel Toxicity
Globally, heavy metal pollution of soil has remained a problem for food security and human health, having a significant impact on crop productivity. In agricultural environments, nickel (Ni) is becoming a hazardous element. The present study was performed to characterize the toxicity symptoms of Ni...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.950392/full |
| _version_ | 1811293196993429504 |
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| author | Muhammad Ahsan Altaf Muhammad Ahsan Altaf Yuanyuan Hao Chengyao He Muhammad Ali Mumtaz Huangying Shu Huizhen Fu Zhiwei Wang Zhiwei Wang |
| author_facet | Muhammad Ahsan Altaf Muhammad Ahsan Altaf Yuanyuan Hao Chengyao He Muhammad Ali Mumtaz Huangying Shu Huizhen Fu Zhiwei Wang Zhiwei Wang |
| author_sort | Muhammad Ahsan Altaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Globally, heavy metal pollution of soil has remained a problem for food security and human health, having a significant impact on crop productivity. In agricultural environments, nickel (Ni) is becoming a hazardous element. The present study was performed to characterize the toxicity symptoms of Ni in pepper seedlings exposed to different concentrations of Ni. Four-week-old pepper seedlings were grown under hydroponic conditions using seven Ni concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, and 100 mg L–1 NiCl2. 6H2O). The Ni toxicity showed symptoms, such as chlorosis of young leaves. Excess Ni reduced growth and biomass production, root morphology, gas exchange elements, pigment molecules, and photosystem function. The growth tolerance index (GTI) was reduced by 88-, 75-, 60-, 45-, 30-, and 19% in plants against 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, and 100 mg L–1 Ni, respectively. Higher Ni concentrations enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, ROS accumulation, membrane integrity [malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL)], and metabolites (proline, soluble sugars, total phenols, and flavonoids) in pepper leaves. Furthermore, increased Ni supply enhanced the Ni content in pepper’s leaves and roots, but declined nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) levels dramatically. The translocation of Ni from root to shoot increased from 0.339 to 0.715 after being treated with 10–100 mg L–1 Ni. The uptake of Ni in roots was reported to be higher than that in shoots. Generally, all Ni levels had a detrimental impact on enzyme activity and led to cell death in pepper seedlings. However, the present investigation revealed that Ni ≥ 30 mg L–1 lead to a deleterious impact on pepper seedlings. In the future, research is needed to further explore the mechanism and gene expression involved in cell death caused by Ni toxicity in pepper plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:57:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-489947b4600241b988a4c3fd25cfd64e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:57:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-489947b4600241b988a4c3fd25cfd64e2022-12-22T03:01:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2022-07-011310.3389/fpls.2022.950392950392Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel ToxicityMuhammad Ahsan Altaf0Muhammad Ahsan Altaf1Yuanyuan Hao2Chengyao He3Muhammad Ali Mumtaz4Huangying Shu5Huizhen Fu6Zhiwei Wang7Zhiwei Wang8Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaSanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, ChinaKey Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaKey Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaKey Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaKey Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaKey Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaKey Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, ChinaSanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, ChinaGlobally, heavy metal pollution of soil has remained a problem for food security and human health, having a significant impact on crop productivity. In agricultural environments, nickel (Ni) is becoming a hazardous element. The present study was performed to characterize the toxicity symptoms of Ni in pepper seedlings exposed to different concentrations of Ni. Four-week-old pepper seedlings were grown under hydroponic conditions using seven Ni concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, and 100 mg L–1 NiCl2. 6H2O). The Ni toxicity showed symptoms, such as chlorosis of young leaves. Excess Ni reduced growth and biomass production, root morphology, gas exchange elements, pigment molecules, and photosystem function. The growth tolerance index (GTI) was reduced by 88-, 75-, 60-, 45-, 30-, and 19% in plants against 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, and 100 mg L–1 Ni, respectively. Higher Ni concentrations enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, ROS accumulation, membrane integrity [malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL)], and metabolites (proline, soluble sugars, total phenols, and flavonoids) in pepper leaves. Furthermore, increased Ni supply enhanced the Ni content in pepper’s leaves and roots, but declined nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) levels dramatically. The translocation of Ni from root to shoot increased from 0.339 to 0.715 after being treated with 10–100 mg L–1 Ni. The uptake of Ni in roots was reported to be higher than that in shoots. Generally, all Ni levels had a detrimental impact on enzyme activity and led to cell death in pepper seedlings. However, the present investigation revealed that Ni ≥ 30 mg L–1 lead to a deleterious impact on pepper seedlings. In the future, research is needed to further explore the mechanism and gene expression involved in cell death caused by Ni toxicity in pepper plants.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.950392/fullnickel toxicityheavy metalpeppermetabolitesmineral homeostasis |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Ahsan Altaf Muhammad Ahsan Altaf Yuanyuan Hao Chengyao He Muhammad Ali Mumtaz Huangying Shu Huizhen Fu Zhiwei Wang Zhiwei Wang Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel Toxicity Frontiers in Plant Science nickel toxicity heavy metal pepper metabolites mineral homeostasis |
| title | Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel Toxicity |
| title_full | Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel Toxicity |
| title_fullStr | Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel Toxicity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel Toxicity |
| title_short | Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings to Nickel Toxicity |
| title_sort | physiological and biochemical responses of pepper capsicum annuum l seedlings to nickel toxicity |
| topic | nickel toxicity heavy metal pepper metabolites mineral homeostasis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.950392/full |
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