Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) impairs crop growth by inducing oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a biocompatible ferruginated carbon quantum dots (Fe-CQDs) nanozyme is developed to target ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage and improving the absorption and transfer of Cd ions in wheat. Notably, Fe-CQDs exhibit multi-enzyme activities mimicking peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), enabling effective neutralization of active species such as hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide anions (O2 center dot-). Importantly, root application of 10 mg L-1 Fe-CQDs alleviates Cd stress and promotes wheat growth in both hydroponic and soil cultures. Specifically, the levels of O2 center dot-, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaf tissues decrease, whereas the non-enzyme antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), increases. Cell wall thickness in the Fe-CQDs-treated group is reduced by 42.4% compared with the Cd group. Moreover, Fe-CQDs enhance the expression of genes related to antioxidants, stress resistance, Cd detoxification, and nutrient transport. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show that Fe-CQDs stimulate the production of flavonoids and regulate the activity of metal transporter genes (YSL, ABC, ZIP) to maintain ROS homeostasis. These findings highlight the potential of Fe-CQDs nanozyme platforms in mitigating oxidative damage and enhancing crop growth, offering new insights into the application of nanobiotechnology in agriculture. (c) 2025 Crop Science Society of China and Institute of Crop Science, CAAS. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Pollution from crude oil and its derivatives poses a serious threat to human health and ecosystems, with accidental spills causing substantial damage. Biodegradation, using microorganisms to break down these contaminants, presents a promising and cost-effective solution. Exploring and utilizing new bacterial strains from underexplored habitats could improve remediation efforts at contaminated sites. This study aimed to evaluate the hydrocarbon biodegradation capacity of bacteria isolated from agricultural soils in Huamachuco, Peru. Soil samples from Oca crops were collected and bacteria were isolated. Biodegradation assays were conducted using diesel as the sole carbon source in the Bushnell Haas Mineral medium. Molecular characterization of the 16S rRNA gene identified four strains. Diesel biodegradation assays at 1% concentration were performed under agitation conditions at 150 rpm and 30 degrees C, and monitored on day 10 by measuring cellular biomass (OD600), with hydrocarbons analyzed by gas chromatography. The results showed Pseudomonas protegens (PROM2) achieved the highest efficiency in removing total hydrocarbons (91.5 +/- 0.7%). Additionally, Pseudomonas citri PROM3 and Acinetobacter guillouiae ClyRoM5 also demonstrated high capacity in removing several individual hydrocarbons. Indigenous bacteria from uncontaminated agricultural soils present a high potential for hydrocarbon bioremediation, offering an ecological and effective solution for soil decontamination.