PJB-2022-185
Evaluation of the effects of Cu, Zn, and Hg metals on wheat
Omar M. Atrooz and Bara’ah B. Alrwalah
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the heavy metal (HM) compounds CuSO4, HgCl2, and ZnSO4 on wheatgrass, Triticum aestivum. Juice was extracted from treated leaves after 14 days of treatment for analysis of biochemical parameters including antioxidant activity, levels of protein and chlorophyll, and peroxidase (POX) enzyme activity. Seed germination was also examined, with decreased root length and paler leaves observed in treated samples, compared with control samples. The HM compounds caused a significant reduction in total chlorophyll levels and decreased the chlorophyll a/b ratio to 0.54–1.36 (compared with 1.63 in the control). Treated samples also showed significantly reduced content of total protein and phenolic compounds. Additionally, 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity was increased slightly, while peroxidase (POX) enzyme activity was reduced, compared with untreated controls. Furthermore, kinetic analysis using a Lineweaver–Burk plot showed that that the kinetic parameters Km and Vmax were altered in the treated samples. Cu inhibited POX uncompetitively, reducing both Km and Vmax without changing the Vmax/Km ratio, while Zn and Hg showed mixed inhibition. Overall, irrigation of wheatgrass with HM solutions affected seed germination, leaf color, antioxidant activity, and levels of chlorophyll, protein, and phenol. Furthermore, POX activity was inhibited
To Cite this article:
Atrooz, O.M. and B.B. Alrwalah. 2024. Evaluation of the effects of Cu, Zn, and Hg metals on wheat. Pak. J. Bot., 56(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2024-3(12)
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