24-EPIBRASSINOLIDE ALLEVIATES CD STRESS IN CUCUMBER

What is it about?

The core objective of current study was to find out the potential of 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) in alleviation of cadmium (Cd) induced stress in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). C. sativus seeds were primed with 5 μM 24-EBL and allowed to grow in Cd spiked petri dishes for 15 days. The Cd-driven stress exhibited noticeable injurious effects on growth parameters of C. sativus seedlings. The oxidative stress pledged due to overproduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) severely affected morphological features besides gas exchange parameters, leaf relative water content (LRWC) and amount of photosynthetic pigments in C. sativus seedlings under Cd stress. Nevertheless, 24-EBL reduced Cd contents in cucumber foliage and elucidated the vital role of this biomolecule in Cd translocation. The exogenous application of 24-EBL improved shoot length, root length and biomass production of Cd-stressed plants. Alternatively, 24-EBL triggered reduction in lipid peroxidation besides increased synthesis of ethylene and indole acetic acid (IAA). Furthermore, 24-EBL modulated the expression level of ethylene receptor genes including CS-ERS, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase2 (CsAOX), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase1 (CSACO1), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase2 (CSACO2), and indole acetic related CS 453. Altogether, these physiological vicissitudes advocate that 24-EBL augmented antioxidative capability contributes in the advancement of Cd tolerance in cucumber seedlings.

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Why is it important?

Cucumber is one of the most important vegetable crops grown throughout the world. A variety of BRs are reported to improve metal tolerance and subsequent production of various vegetable crops under metal stress. However, miniscule information is available about the role of 24-EBL in alleviation of Cd toxicity in cucumber plants. Therefore, current research work was designed to perceive the potential of this biomolecule in mitigation of Cd-stress in cucumber plants. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that possible ameliorative role of 24-EBL may encompass the activity of stress-responsive genes and antioxidative defense system of subjected plants.

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