Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils poses a serious threat to crop productivity and food security, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study investigates the role of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) in alleviating Cd-induced stress in maize (Zea mays L.) under controlled greenhouse conditions. Sterilized maize seeds were sown in sand-filled pots and treated with varying SiNP concentrations (0%, 0.75%, 1.5%, 3%, and 6%) with or without Cd (30 ppm). Physiological, biochemical, and antioxidant parameters were analyzed to assess plant responses. Results demonstrated that SiNPs significantly enhanced photosynthetic pigment concentrations, with chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and carotenoids increasing by 45%, 35%, and 50%, respectively, in the 6% SiNP + 30 ppm Cd treatment. Biochemical analyses revealed improved osmotic adjustment, as indicated by higher soluble protein (6.52 mg/g FW) and proline (314.43 mu mol/g FW) levels. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase, were markedly higher in SiNP-treated plants, mitigating oxidative damage. Additionally, SiNPs reduced Cd accumulation in plant tissues, suggesting a protective role in limiting metal toxicity. These findings highlight SiNPs as a promising approach for enhancing maize resilience against Cd stress, with potential applications in sustainable agriculture for improving crop health in contaminated soils.

Chromium (Cr), a persistent soil pollutant, has detrimental effects on plants and living things, and its contamination in soil increased as a result of human-induced activities. Pakistan suffers from a lack of fresh water supplies; hence most people use metal-containing water and wastewater to irrigate their crops. Exposure to Cr toxicity, the plant reduces their morphological and physiological growth which ultimately decreases crop productivity. The current study was designed to investigate the foliar application of hesperidin (HSP) at varying effluent rates (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L-1) on wheat growth under tannery wastewater irrigated soil. Cr toxicity caused a change in the concentration of chlorophyll molecules, indicating early signs of stress. Modifications in the ultrastructure of chloroplasts, the elevated activity of chlorophyllase, and the generation of reactive oxygen species were causing the reduction in chlorophyll. Cr stress disrupted total soluble protein concentrations and the activity of antioxidationrelated enzymes and NRA, suggesting the onset of oxidative stress. On the other hand, the application of HSP reduced oxidative damage by improving protein concentration (37%), chlorophyll concentration (37%), and antioxidant enzyme activity such as CAT (65%), SOD (46%), and POD (68%). Furthermore, HSP raised the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules, which may indicate better redox homeostasis and stress tolerance. These molecules include GSH, GSSG, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics, and anthocyanins. HSP therapy lessened the impact of Cr stress on lipid peroxidation markers. HSP enhanced these measures during the investigation. Cr stress raised the concentrations of total free amino acids and nitrogen oxide and decreased the radical scavenging activity in wheat. Cr stress raised the concentration of all soluble sugars, primarily reducing and non-reducing sugars, whereas the application of HSP strengthened these osmo protectants even more results of the present investigation indicate that exogenous HSP is a feasible and eco-friendly approach to improving plant resistance against Cr toxicity by efficiently reducing the physiological strain and metabolic stress caused by Cr in wheat plants.

D UE TO climate change, salinity is one of the most important problems facing global food security in most agricultural lands. So, many studies were conducted to improve the crop yield and production under salinity conditions using various methods and compounds. Application of soil amendments and foliar application such as biochar, compost, vermicompost, green manure, farmyard manures, silicon, salicylic acid (SA), nano particles and plant growth promoting bacteria were used to mitigate the deleterious impacts of salinity and improve the growth characters and yield of several plants. To mitigate salinity stress, soil amendments were added to soil and led to improve morphophysiological and biochemical characters like stem length, leaves number, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, relative water content, osmotic adjustment and enzymes activity in the stressed plant. Furthermore, foliar application with some treatments especially, SA and plant growth promoting bacteria led to increase plant tolerance to salt stress via improving water status, ion homeostasis and plant anatomical structure as well as yield production. However, foliar application with these treatments caused significant decreases in lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species and electrolyte leakage as well as oxidative damages in the salt stressed plants. Because our aim is to increase the growth, and development as well as crop yield under salt conditions, the current review addresses the application of soil amendments and foliar application on morphological, physiological and biochemical as well as yield characteristics in the stressed crops as effective strategy for sustainable agriculture.

Rising soil salinity hinders global crop yields by damaging plants, threatening food security. This study assessed glycine betaine (GB) application methods (foliar, seed priming) and salinity levels (0, 60, 120, 180 mM NaCl) on quinoa over two seasons. For ionic homeostasis, seed priming improved K+/Na+ ratio by 10-15 % at low salinity, while foliar was 12-18 % more effective at high salinity. Seed priming remained 10-15 % superior for roots. Foliar enhanced osmolytes by 12-16 % at low salinity, but seed priming had 16-20 % stronger effects at high salinity. Under low salinity, seed priming provided 8-12 % better protection for chlorophyll and photosynthetic efficiency. At high salinity, foliar GB was 10-15 % best for chlorophyll, seed priming 12-16 % more effective for photosynthetic rate, and foliar GB had an 8-10 % edge for Fv/Fm. GB reduced MDA by 8-12 % at low salinity, 12-16 % with seed priming at medium salinity in 2023, and 16-20 % with foliar in 2024. At high salinity, seed priming decreased MDA by 20-25 % in 2023, while foliar showed a 24-28 % reduction. GB moderately enhanced antioxidants by 8-12 % under mild stress, but seed priming and foliar differed 16-20 % in effectiveness under severe stress. For nutrients, seed priming had a 12-16 % advantage for nitrogen at medium salinity in 2023, while foliar excelled with a 16-20 % increase under high stress in 2024. Seed priming was 16-20 % better for phosphorus at high salinity in 2023, but foliar had 20-25 % superior results in 2024. These findings highlight complex plant responses to GB-salinity interactions, with optimal methods varying by trait, stress level, and environmental conditions. (c) 2024 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Objectives: This study addresses the critical issue of Cd contamination in agricultural soils, posing substantial risks to crop productivity and food safety. While prior pot experiment has undertook this issue on a small scale, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of selected best soil amendments, at a large-scale field experiment. Methodology: Press mud and humic acid were applied at 0.5%, while gypsum and Fe2O3 were applied at 5 mg/kg alone and with foliar application of Fe nanoparticles at 5 mg/L. Analysis: Comparative analysis with control revealed the immobilization efficiency of all amendments in descending order of effectiveness as follows: 100, 102, 104, 104, 105, 102, 105, and 105% for PM, HA, GYP, Fe, PM + Fe Nps, HA + Fe Nps, GYP + Fe Nps, and Fe + Fe Nps. Additionally, reduced growth, photosynthetic activities, and elevated levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, indicative of oxidative damage in control plant. Findings: Application of these amendments with foliar spraying of Fe Nps effectively mitigates Cd toxicity in maize crops, leading to improved growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Novelty/Improvement: These findings highlight the significance of exploring innovative approach of combining different amendments with foliar application of nanoparticles to mitigate Cd contamination and enhance soil health, thereby contributing to global efforts in ensuring food safety and security.

Background With the progress of industrialization and urbanization, cadmium (Cd) pollution in farmland is increasingly severe, greatly affecting human health. Sunflowers possess high resistance to Cd stress and great potential for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil. Previous studies have shown that humic acid (HA) effectively mitigates plant damage induced by Cd; however, its alleviating effects on sunflower plants under Cd stress remain largely unknown. Results We employed four different concentrations of HA (50, 100, 200, and 300 mg L-1) via foliar application to examine their ability to alleviate Cd stress on sunflower plants' growth, chlorophyll synthesis, and biochemical defense system. The results revealed that Cd stress not only reduced plant height, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight, and chlorophyll content in sunflower plants but also altered their chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics compared to the control group. After Cd stress, the photosynthetic structure was damaged and the number of PSII reactive centers per unit changed. Application of 200 mg L-1 HA promotes sunflower growth and increases chlorophyll content. HA significantly enhances antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT, and APX) and reduces ROS content (O-2(-), H2O2 and -OH). Totally, Application of 200 mg L-1 HA had the best effect than other concentrations to alleviate the Cd-induced stress in sunflower plants. Conclusions The foliar application of certain HA concentration exhibited the most effective alleviation of Cd-induced stress on sunflower plants. It can enhance the light energy utilization and antioxidant enzyme activities, while reduce ROS contents in sunflower plants. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using HA to mitigate Cd stress in sunflowers.