Menadione sodium bisulfite neutralizes chromium phytotoxic effects in okra by regulating cytosolutes, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant system and metal uptake

• Published in: International journal of phytoremediation Vol. 23; no. 7; pp. 736 - 746
• Main Authors: Ashraf, Muhammad Arslan, Rasheed, Rizwan, Zafar, Sadia, Iqbal, Muhammad, Saqib, Zulfiqar Ahmad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Abelmoschus; Agricultural development; Agricultural production; Amino acids; Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid; Biochemical characteristics; Biochemistry; Biodegradation, Environmental; Bisulfite; Chlorophyll; Chromium; Chromium - toxicity; Cr uptake; Cultivars; Damage tolerance; Defense mechanisms; Enzymatic activity; Flavonoids; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Malondialdehyde; Menadione; MSB; Okra; oxidative defense system; Oxidative Stress; Peroxidation; Phenols; Plant growth; Plant Leaves; Plant species; Proline; secondary metabolites; Sodium; Trace metals; Vitamin K 3; oxidative defense system; secondary metabolites; MSB; lipid peroxidation; Cr uptake; Trace metals
• ISSN: 1522-6514; 1549-7879
• DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2020.1854171

Chromium (Cr) is a major abiotic stress for plant species that significantly impacted plant development and impeded agricultural production. Menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB) has recently manifested a remarkable role in modulating plant defense responses. In the present experiment, Cr caused a significant decrease in growth, relative water contents, and chlorophyll in okra cultivars (Shabnam 786 and Arka Anamika). Cr produced an increase in proline, total soluble proteins, total free amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Cr accumulation. Besides, activities of antioxidant enzymes were also higher in Cr-stressed plants. MSB application (50, 100, 150, and 200 µM) profoundly impacted growth and important physio-biochemical characteristics in okra under Cr stress. Better growth in MSB treated plants was associated with lower oxidative damage and better oxidative defense system reflected in the form of higher antioxidant enzyme activities alongside the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds. In this background, cv. Shabnam-786 exhibited greater Cr tolerance over Arka Anamika. The degree of oxidative damage measured in the form of H 2 O 2 and MDA was greater in cv. Arka Anamika. Lower MSB levels (50 and 100 µM) circumvented inhibitory Cr effects in okra, while higher doses proved lethal for plant growth and development.