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Alleviation of chromium toxicity by glycinebetaine is related to elevated antioxidant enzymes and suppressed chromium uptake and oxidative stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

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Abstract

Little information is available on the role of glycinebetaine (GB) in chromium (Cr) tolerance while Cr toxicity is widespread problem in crops grown on Cr-contaminated soils. In this study, we investigated the influence of GB on Cr tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in sand and soil mediums. Three concentrations of chromium (0, 0.25, and 0.5 mM) were tested with and without foliar application of GB (0.1 M). Chromium alone led to a significant growth inhibition and content of chlorophyll a, b, proteins and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Glycinebetaine foliar application successfully alleviated the toxic effects of Cr on wheat plants and enhanced growth characteristics, biomass, proteins, and chlorophyll contents. Glycinebetaine also reduced Cr accumulation in wheat plants especially in grains and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes in both shoots and roots. This study provides evidence that GB application contributes to decreased Cr concentrations in wheat plants and its importance in the detoxification of heavy metals.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for financial support. The results presented in this paper are a part of MSc studies of Tania Anwar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Shafaqat Ali, Aaifa Chaudhary, Muhammad Rizwan, Hafiza Tania Anwar, Muhammad Adrees, Mujahid Farid & Muhammad Kashif Irshad

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, CIIT Abbottabad Campus, University Road, Tobe Camp, Abbottabad, 22060, Pakistan

    Tahir Hayat

  3. Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Jail Road, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Shakeel Ahmad Anjum

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  1. Shafaqat Ali
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  2. Aaifa Chaudhary
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  3. Muhammad Rizwan
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  4. Hafiza Tania Anwar
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  5. Muhammad Adrees
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  9. Shakeel Ahmad Anjum
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Correspondence to Muhammad Adrees.

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Ali, S., Chaudhary, A., Rizwan, M. et al. Alleviation of chromium toxicity by glycinebetaine is related to elevated antioxidant enzymes and suppressed chromium uptake and oxidative stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 10669–10678 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4193-4

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