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.

Salt stress severely limits global crop productivity by disrupting ionic balance, physiological processes, and cellular ultrastructure, particularly in salt-sensitive forages like alfalfa (Medicago sativa L). Addressing this issue requires environmentally feasible and innovative strategies. This study investigated the comparative potential of Nano-FeO and FeSO4 (30 mg kg-1) soil supplements with rhizobium on alfalfa salt tolerance employing morphological, physicochemical, and cellular approaches. The results demonstrated that FITC-nFeO and rhizobium significantly reduced Na+ uptake, enhanced K+ accumulation, and improved the Na+/K+ ratio in alfalfa roots and shoots relative to FeSO4. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated that FITC-nFeO ameliorated root ultracellular structure and leaf stomatal functionality, facilitating improved gaseous exchange characteristics and photosynthetic performance. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed FITC-tagged nFeO adhesion to roots, supported by transmission electron microscopy findings of preserved chloroplast ultrastructure under FITC-nFeO and rhizobium application. FITC-nFeO also mitigated oxidative damage of ROS, as evidenced by reduced hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, through enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Overall, in comparison to FeSO4, FITC-nFeO with rhizobium retrieved the salt-induced damages in alfalfa by promoting morpho-physiological and ultracellular integrity. This study highlights the role of nanotechnology in enhancing the resilience of forages on salt-contaminated soils, paving the way for eco-friendly remediation strategies.

Salinity stress hampers plant growth and crop productivity. The growth and yield of coriander are severely affected by soil salinity. A pot experiment was performed to investigate the effectiveness of zinc and iron foliar application along with spray adjuvants under salinity stress. The single foliar application of micronutrients was carried out under normal and saline conditions (7 dS m-1) at the vegetative growth stage (21 days after germination). The results showed an increase in plant biomass, relative water content, antioxidant activities, and zinc and iron concentrations in coriander. The shoot dry biomass was significantly improved by 107 and 203%, respectively, in both control and saline conditions where zinc + iron + adjuvant was applied. The same treatment combination reduced the membrane damage, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and improved gas exchange attributes (27% increase in photosynthesis rate compared to the control) and mineral contents in coriander plants under saline conditions. The application of zinc and iron was beneficial in mitigating salinity stress in coriander plants, and their effectiveness was increased by the addition of spray adjuvants.

Cadmium (Cd) is an abiotic stressor negatively affecting plant growth and reducing crop productivity. The effects of Cd (25 mu M) and of pre-soaking seeds with salicylic acid (SA) (500 mu M) on morphological, physiological, and glycerolipid changes in two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'Tosunbey' and 'Cumhuriyet') were explored. Parameters measured were length, fresh and dry biomass, Cd concentration, osmotic potential (psi), lipid peroxidation, and polar lipid species in roots and leaves, as well as leaf chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and fv/fm. Fresh biomass of roots and leaves and leaf length were strongly depressed by Cd treatment compared to the control, but significantly increased with SA + Cd compared to Cd alone. Cd reduced leaf levels of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and fv/fm, compared to controls. Treatment with SA + Cd increased pigment levels and fv/fm compared to Cd alone. Cd treatment led to a decrease in DW of total membrane lipids in leaves and depressed levels of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid in leaves and roots of both cultivars. The effects of SA priming and SA + Cd treatment on lipid content and composition were cultivar-specific, suggesting that lipid metabolism may not be a primary target underlying SA remediation of the damaging effects of Cd on wheat growth and development.

Industrial waste and sewage deposit heavy metals into the soil, where they can remain for long periods. Although there are several methods to manage heavy metals in agricultural soil, microorganisms present a promising and effective solution for their detoxification. We isolated a rhizofungus, Aspergillus terreus (GenBank Acc. No. KT310979.1), from Parthenium hysterophorus L., and investigated its growth-promoting and metal detoxification capabilities. The isolated fungus was evaluated for its ability to mitigate lead (25 and 75 ppm) and copper (100 and 200 ppm) toxicity in Triticum aestivum L. seedlings. The experiment utilized a completely randomized design with three replicates for each treatment. A. terreus successfully colonized the roots of wheat seedlings, even in the presence of heavy metals, and significantly enhanced plant growth. The isolate effectively alleviates lead and copper stress in wheat seedlings, as evidenced by increases in shoot length (142%), root length (98%), fresh weight (24%), dry weight (73%), protein content (31%), and sugar content (40%). It was observed that wheat seedlings possess a basic defense system against stress, but it was insufficient to support normal growth. Fungal inoculation strengthened the host's defense system and reduced its exposure to toxic heavy metals. In treated seedlings, exposure to heavy metals significantly upregulated MT1 gene expression, which aided in metal detoxification, enhanced antioxidant defenses, and maintained metal homeostasis. A reduction in metal exposure was observed in several areas, including normalizing the activities of antioxidant enzymes that had been elevated by up to 67% following exposure to Pb (75 mg/kg) and Cu (200 mg/kg). Heavy metal exposure elevated antioxidant levels but also increased ROS levels by 86%. However, with Aspergillus terreus colonization, ROS levels stayed within normal ranges. This decrease in ROS was associated with reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, enhanced membrane stability, and restored root architecture. In conclusion, rhizofungal colonization improved metal tolerance in seedlings by decreasing metal uptake and increasing the levels of metal-binding metallothionein proteins.

One of the major problems related to climate change is the increase in land area affected by higher salt concentrations and desertification. Finding economically and environmentally friendly sustainable solutions that effectively mitigate salt stress damage to plants is of great importance. In our work, some natural products and microbial biocontrol agents were evaluated for their long-term effectiveness in reducing salt stress in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. romana) plants. Fourteen different treatments applied to soil pots, with and without salt stress, were analyzed using biometric (leaf and root length and width), physiological (chlorophyll and proline content), and morphological (microscopic preparations) techniques and NGS to study the microbial communities in the soil of plants subjected to different treatments. Under our long-term experimental conditions (90 days), the results showed that salt stress negatively affected plant growth. The statistical analysis showed a high variability in the responses of the different biostimulant treatments. Notably, the biocontrol agents Papiliotrema terrestris (strain PT22AV), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (strain B07), and Rahnella aquatilis (strain 36) can act as salt stress mitigators in L. sativa. These findings suggest that both microbial biocontrol agents and certain natural products hold promise for reducing the adverse effects of salt stress on plants.