Comparatively Cognizing the Physiological Responses and Cytoprotective Adaptations in Castor Bean Genotypes Grown in Lead Contaminated Soils from Chakera Village with a Long History of Wastewater Irrigation

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 114; no. 5; p. 79
• Main Authors: Naveed, Sahar, Mahmood, Sajid, Ishaque, Wajid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Agricultural Irrigation; Agricultural production; agricultural productivity; Agricultural wastes; Amino acids; antioxidant enzymes; Aquatic Pollution; ascorbate peroxidase; Ascorbic acid; Beans; Biochemistry; Biomarkers; bulls; castor beans; Catalase; Cell membranes; Damage; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Electrolyte leakage; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Enzymes; Genotype; Genotypes; greenhouses; Heavy metals; Irrigation; L-Ascorbate peroxidase; Lead; Lead - analysis; Lead - toxicity; Oxidative Stress; Peroxidase; Phenolic compounds; Physiological responses; Physiology; plant development; Pollution; Ricinus communis; Ricinus communis - genetics; Ricinus communis - physiology; Soil contamination; Soil management; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil pollution; Soil Science & Conservation; Superoxide dismutase; villages; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater; Wastewater - chemistry; Wastewater irrigation; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Lead; Soil; Cytoprotective adaptations; Antioxidant markers; Abiotic stress; Castor bean genotypes
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-025-04060-7

Despite the widespread presence of heavy metals (HMs) in contaminated soils, there is a limiting understanding of physiological and cellular adaptive mechanisms of castor bean ( Ricinus communis L.) under lead (Pb) contaminated soils of Chakera having enduring history of wastewater irrigation. This gap in knowledge hinders the development of effective strategies for managing soil pollution and protecting agricultural productivity in areas exposed to wastewater irrigation. Therefore, current pot study was conducted on two castor bean genotypes (NIAB-2020 and DS-30) on Pb contaminated soils of Chakera in glasshouse for a period of 120 days. Results showed that physiological indicators decreased under stressed conditions in NIAB-2020 and DS-30, suggesting impaired plant development. Electrolyte leakage (EL) increased in stressed plants indicating damage to cell membrane due to oxidative damage. Biochemically, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) decreased whereas catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) showed an increase in both castor bean genotypes to mitigate oxidative stress. In similar pattern, both genotypes exhibited a reduction in total soluble proteins (TSP) and total free amino acids (TFA), while conversely total soluble sugars (TSS) and total phenolic contents (TPC) increased under stress conditions. Significant correlation was observed between various physiological, biochemical, and antioxidant enzyme responses, indicating their role as stressed biomarkers on Pb contaminated soils. Overall, NIAB-2020 outperformed DS-30 in terms of physiological and biochemical adaptations, evidencing superior adaptive approach. However, future field trials are compulsory to validate the findings of the study.