Effect of Seed Priming with Silk Reeling Effluent and Saffron Petal Wastes on Enhancing Cadmium Stress Tolerance in Physalis L. Species

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Production, University of Torbat Heydarieh, Torbat Heydarieh, Iran

2 Saffron Institute, University of Torbat Heydarieh, Torbat Heydarieh, Iran

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly mobile and soluble heavy metal that is easily taken up by plants, making it a significant source of contamination in agricultural produce. This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of selected natural substances in mitigating the adverse effects of Cd stress on two Physalis species at the research laboratory of University of Torbat Heydarieh, Iran. The experiment was arranged as a factorial based on a completely randomized design, with treatments including two levels of Cd (0 and 500 µM), two Physalis species (Ph. peruviana and Ph. ixocarpa), and seven priming methods (control (no priming), hydropriming (HP), salicylic acid (SA) (1 mM), vermicompost water extract (VE):10%, Silk reeling effluent (SRE): 100%, wood vinegar (WV): 100%, and saffron petal water extract (SPE): 10%). The results showed that Cd stress significantly reduced germination rate, seedling biomass, chlorophyll a content, and the activities of Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX) and Catalase (CAT), while it increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline levels in both species. Among the two species, Ph. ixocarpa exhibited a higher stress tolerance index (STI) than Ph. peruviana. Seed priming with some natural compounds, particularly SRE and SPE, meaningfully enhanced germination rate, seedling biomass, chlorophyll a content, and activities of APX and CAT, but reducing stress markers such as MDA and proline. Seed priming with WV not only failed to improve germination and seedling growth but also resulted in lower values than the control in both species. Overall, seed priming with SRE and SPE proved more effective than SA in enhancing seed germination and growth of Physalis species in Cd stress condition. Notably, Ph. ixocarpa demonstrated greater tolerance.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Zulfiqar U., Ayub A., Hussain S., Waraich E.A., El-Esawi M.A., Ishfaq M., Maqsood M.F., et al. Cadmium toxicity in plants: Recent progress on morpho-physiological effects and remediation strategies. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 2022;22(1):212–269.
  2. Riaz M., Kamran M., Rizwan M., Ali S., Parveen A., Malik Z., Wang X. Cadmium uptake and translocation: selenium and silicon roles in Cd detoxification for the production of low Cd crops: a critical review. Chemosphere. 2021;273: 129690.
  3. Feizi H., Ziaei S.M., Sahabi H. Alleviation of Cadmium Toxicity on the Germination Characteristics of Balangu [Lallemantia royleana (Benth.) Benth.] and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Seeds by using Ascorbic Acid. Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products. 2025;14(4):328-335. doi: 10.22034/jmpb.2025.366577.1730
  4. Mehri N., Hadian J., Rahimmalek M. Effect of nutrient management on cadmium tolerance in plants. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2018;41(12):1567–1578.
  5. Xu M., Huang Q., Xiong Z., Liao H., Lv Z., Chen W., Hao X. Distinct responses of rare and abundant microbial taxa to in situ chemical stabilization of cadmium-contaminated soil. mSystems. 2021; 6(5): e00676-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00676-21
  6. Ramazani S., Moradi R., Ziaei S.M., Panah M.A. Investigation of germination characteristics and tolerance indices to cadmium stress in some Physalis spp. Environmental Stresses in Agricultural Sciences. 2025; ESCS-2501-2332 (R3).
  7. Moradi R., Pourghasemian N., Naghizadeh M. Effect of beeswax waste biochar on growth, physiology and cadmium uptake in saffron. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2019;229: 1251–1261.
  8. Khalaki M.A., Baghizadeh A., Ahmadi S., Sharifi P. Seed priming with chemical and biological agents improves cadmium tolerance in plants. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2020;193: 110356.
  9. Mubeen S., Ni W., He C., Yang Z. Agricultural strategies to reduce cadmium accumulation in crops for food safety. Agriculture. 2023;13(2): 471. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020471
  10. Haider F.U., Khan I., Farooq M., Cai L., Li Y. Co-application of biochar and plant growth regulators improves maize growth and decreases Cd accumulation in cadmium-contaminated soil. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2024; 440: 140515.
  11. Abid M., Hakeem A., Shao Y., Liu Y., Zahoor R., Fan Y., Suyu J., AtaUl-Karim S.T., Tian Z., Jiang D., Snider J.L. Dai T. Seed Osmo priming invokes stress memory against post-germinative drought stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2018; 145: 12–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2033.10.002
  12. Jarrar H., El‐Keblawy A., Albawab M., Ghenai C., Sheteiwy M. Seed priming as a promising technique for sustainable restoration of dryland. Restoration Ecology. 2024; 32(6): e14182.
  13. Rehman S.U., De Castro F., Aprile A., Benedetti M., Fanizzi F.P. Vermicompost: Enhancing plant growth and combating abiotic and biotic stress. Agronomy. 2023; 13(4): 1134.
  14. Sohail M., Pirzada T., Opperman C.H., Khan S.A. Recent advances in seed coating technologies: transitioning toward sustainable agriculture. Green Chemistry. 2022; 24(16): 6052–6085. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2GC01638F
  15. Yadav G., Mathur J. Seed priming with fruit and vegetable waste-based nanoparticles: A sustainable green approach. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 2025; 25(1): 303–321.
  16. Jaramillo-Quiceno N., Restrepo-Osorio A., Cardona-Sosa L., Serna-Cock L. Bioactive properties of sericin extracted from silk production waste: Potential agricultural applications. Industrial Crops and Products. 2023; 196: 116530.
  17. Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar M., Razavi B.M., Hosseinzadeh H. A review on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic effects of Crocus sativus L. petals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2023; 304: 116044.
  18. Montero L., Herrero M., Prodanov M., Ibáñez E., Cifuentes A. Characterization of phenolic compounds in saffron by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A. 12012; 264: 43–51.
  19. Grewal A., Abigapuro T. Wood vinegar: A sustainable alternative for agricultural applications. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews. 2018; 27: 113–130.
  20. Jin H., Yan X., Yu C., Zhang Y., Yan Y., Xu Y. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of wood vinegar from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Industrial Crops and Products. 2010; 32(3): 284–287.
  21. Zhai M., Yang Z., Zhang J., Zhang Y., Li Y., Wang Y., Liu Y., Zhang, L. Characterization and application of wood vinegar: A byproduct from biomass pyrolysis. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 2021;153: 104986.
  22. Alavi Asl, S., Javanmard A., Besharati H., Moradi M. Effect of wood vinegar on soil properties, microbial activity, and yield of maize under sustainable agricultural practices. Agricultural Research. 2023; 12(1):45–57.
  23. Bahar Asemani D., Rezaei M., Khosravi A. Antifungal and insecticidal properties of wood vinegar: Implications for eco-friendly pest management. Crop Protection. 2023;167: 106190.
  24. Wistiri R. Utilization of wood vinegar in organic farming: Effects on pest control and plant growth. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. 2011; 35(3): .301–310.
  25. Ofoe R., Smith L., Thompson R., Akoto O. Wood vinegar as a biostimulant: Effects on yield and quality of vegetables. Scientia Horticulturae. 2022; 299: 111019.
  26. Mudhoo A., Ramasamy D.L., Bhatnagar A., Usman M., Sillanpää M. An analysis of the versatility and effectiveness of composts for sequestering heavy metal ions, dyes and xenobiotics from soils and aqueous milieus. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2020;197: 110587.
  27. Kazemi, Samira, et al. "Enhancing the absorption of microelements by applying humic acid and zinc sulfate in Physalis alkekengi: Improve chlorophyll content and fruit quality." Greenhouse Plant Production Journal 1.3 (2024): 68-82. https://10.0.239.2/gppj.1.3.68
  28. Svobodová E., Hedbavny J., Baranyk P., Klem K., Urban O. Physalis peruviana L.: A review of its nutritional value, bioactive compounds, and health benefits. Food Research International. 2018; 105: 436–450.
  29. Singh D., Kumar R., Yadav R., Verma R.K., Verma R.S. Genetic diversity and breeding potential of Physalis species: An overview. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 2014; 61(7): 1463–1476.
  30. González-Pérez J.E., Guerrero-Beltrán J.Á. Tomatillo or husk tomato (Physalis philadelphica and Physalis ixocarpa): A review. Scientia Horticulturae. 2021; 288: 110306.
  31. Zhang W.N., Tong W.Y. Chemical constituents and biological activities of plants from the genus Physalis. Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2016: 13(1): 48–65.
  32. Feizi H., Agheli N., Sahabi H. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles alleviate cadmium toxicity in lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) seeds. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica. 2020; 116(1): 59-68.
  33. Farooq S., Onen H., Ozaslan C., El-Shehawi A.M., Elseehy M.M. Characteristics and methods to release seed dormancy of two ground cherry (Physalis) species. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 2021; 25: 100337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2021.100337
  34. McDonald M.B. Seed Germination Theory and Practice. 3rd ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. 2000.
  35. Bayat P., Ghobadi M.A., Mohammadi G. Evaluation of the ability of standard seed germination test in laboratory conditions to predict the emergence and establishment of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings. Seed Science and Technology. 2020; 2(5): 35–50.
  36. Bates L.S., Waldren R.P., Teare I.D. Rapid determination of free proline for water-stress studies. Plant and Soil. 1973; 39(1): 205–207.
  37. Shameh, S., Al-Momany, A. and Al-Dakheel, A., 2019. Methods for determination of photosynthetic pigments in plant leaves. Journal of Plant Science. 2019; 14(3): 45–52.
  38. Hayat S., Hayat Q., Alyemeni M.N., Wani A.S., Pichtel J., Ahmad A. Role of proline under changing environments: A review. Plant Signaling & Behavior. 2012; 7(11): 1456–1466. https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.21949
  39. Moradi R., Pourghasemian N., Naghizadeh M. Effect of beeswax waste biochar on growth, physiology and cadmium uptake in saffron. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2019; 229: 1251–1261.
  40. Hazrati S., Mohammadi R., Ahmadi S. Optimized protocols for antioxidant enzyme assays in Physalis species under abiotic stress. Plant Biochemistry Journal. 2022; 18(2): 89–98.
  41. Abdul‐Baki A.A., Anderson J.D. Vigor determination in soybean seed by multiple criteria 1. Crop science. 1973; 13(6):630-633.
  42. Fischer R.A., Maurer R. Drought resistance in spring wheat cultivars. I. Grain yield responses. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research. 1978; 29(5):897–912.
  43. Gallego S.M., Pena L.B., Barcia R.A., Azpilicueta C.E., Iannone M.F., Rosales E.P., Benavides M.P. Unravelling cadmium toxicity and tolerance in plants: Insight into regulatory mechanisms. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2012; 83: 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2012.04.006
  44. Hasan M.K., Ahammed G.J., Sun S., Li M., Zhou J. Cadmium stress in plants: Remediation strategies, mechanisms of uptake, translocation and tolerance. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2020: 191: 110210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110210
  45. Lux A., Martinka M., Vaculík M., White P.J. Root responses to cadmium in the rhizosphere: A review. Journal of Experimental Botany. 2011; 62(1): 21–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erq281
  46. Ismael M.A., Elyamine A.M., Moussa M.G., Cai M., Zhao X. Cadmium in plants: uptake, toxicity, and its interactions with selenium fertilizers. Metallomics. 2019; 11(2): 255–277. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8MT00247A
  47. Tian S., Lu L., Zhang J., Wang K., Brown P., He Z. Mechanisms of cadmium-induced oxidative stress and plant tolerance: A review. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2021;164: 80–90.
  48. Farooq M.A., Niazi A.K., Akhtar J., Saqib Z.A., Nawaz R. Role of proline under changing environments: A review. Plant Signaling & Behavior. 2022; 33(1): 2030089.
  49. Ashraf M., Foolad M.R. Roles of glycine betaine and proline in improving plant abiotic stress resistance. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2007; 59(2): 206–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2005.12.006
  50. Jisha K.C., Vijayakumari K., Puthur J.T. Seed priming for abiotic stress tolerance: An overview. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. 2013;35: 1381–1396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13338-012-1186-5
  51. Shahid M., Dumat C., Pourrut B. Heavy-metal-induced reactive oxygen species: phytotoxicity and physicochemical changes in plants. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 2013; 232:1–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9328-8_1
  52. Gill S.S., Tuteja N. Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant machinery in abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2010; 48(12): 909–930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2010.08.016
  53. Rizwan M., Ali S., Adrees M., Rizvi H., Zia-ur-Rehman M., Hannan F., Qayyum M.F. Cadmium stress in rice: toxic effects, tolerance mechanisms, and management: a critical review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2016;23: 33859–33879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6436-4
  54. Khan M.I.R., Fatma M., Per T.S., Anjum N.A., Khan,N.A. Salicylic acid-induced abiotic stress tolerance and underlying mechanisms in plants. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2015; 6: 462. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.00462
  55. Sytar O., Kumar A., Latowski D., Kuczynska P., Strzalka K., Prasad M.N.V. Heavy metal-induced oxidative damage, defense reactions, and detoxification mechanisms in plants. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. 2013;35: 985–999. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13338-012-1169-6
  56. Amooaghaie R., Nikzad K., Shareghi B. Effect of priming with salicylic acid and ascorbic acid on germination and growth of Brassica napus under cadmium stress. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2015; 33: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2015.04.002
  57. Sheteiwy M.S., Ali D.F.I., Xiong Y.C., Brestic M., Shaghaleh H., Soufan W. Physiological and biochemical responses of plants to metal stress: A review. Plants. 2021; 10(1): 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010118
  58. Farooq M., Basra S.M.A., Wahid A., Nawaz A. Seed priming enhances the performance of late sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by improving chilling tolerance. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 2006; 192(3): 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-037X.2006.00210.x
  59. Verma S., Dubey R.S. Lead toxicity induces lipid peroxidation and alters the activities of antioxidant enzymes in growing rice plants. Plant Science. 2003; 164(4): 645–655. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(03)00022-0
  60. Etesami H., Jeong B.R. Silicon (Si): review and future prospects on the action mechanisms in alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2018; 147: 881–896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2033.09.063
  61. Khodadadi H., Khaledi S., Mehdinezhad Roshan M., Eslampour M., Moradi S., Mortazavi P. Efficacy of Salvia Officinalis Extract Against Infertility in Oxidative Stress Conditions. Journal of Medicinal plants and By-products. 2024; 13(3): 629-636. doi: 10.22034/jmpb.2023.363418.1600
  62. Moradi M., Kamyab A., Shariati J. The impact of saffron petal extract on physiological and biochemical responses of wheat seedlings under cadmium stress. Biological Forum – An International Journal. 2023; 9(1): 25–31.
  63. Babaei S., Sabzalian M.R., Saeidi M. Saffron petal extract improves germination indices and seedling growth under cadmium stress. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 2020; 39(3): 901–912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10002-8
  64. Svobodová E., Hedbavny J., Baranyk P., Klem K., Urban O. Physalis peruviana L.: A review of its nutritional value, bioactive compounds, and health benefits. Food Research International. 2018; 105: 436–450.
  65. Kazemi N., Khavari-Nejad R.A., Fahimi H., Saadatmand S. Antioxidative response of two saffron cultivars to cadmium stress. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2018; 25(12): 11349–11357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1420-4
  66. Salarizadeh S., Kavousi H.R., Pourseyadi S. Effect of Cadmium on Germination Characters and Biochemical Parameters of Two Iranian Ecotypes of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.). Journal of Medicinal plants and By-products. 2016; 5(1): 15-22. doi: 10.22092/jmpb.2016.108919
  67. Sohail M., Pirzada T., Opperman C.H., Khan S.A. Recent advances in seed coating technologies: transitioning toward sustainable agriculture. Green Chemistry. 2022; 24(16): 6052–6085. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2GC01638F
  68. Joo G.J., Kim Y.M., Lee I.J., Song K.S., Rhee I.K. Growth promotion of red pepper seedlings and inhibition of soil-borne pathogens by wood vinegar. Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer. 2011; 44(2): 232–237.
  69. Shahid M., Dumat C., Khalid S., Schreck E., Xiong T., Niazi N.K. Foliar heavy metal uptake, toxicity and detoxification in plants: a comparison of foliar and root metal uptake. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2033; 325: 36–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.11.063
  70. Hussein Alsaadi J.H. Quality, Quantity Analysis of Cadmium, Lead, Nickel, Active Chemical Compounds and Cytotoxicity for Some Medicinal Plants in Southern Iraq. Journal of Medicinal plants and By-products. 2026;15(1): 117-125. doi: 10.22034/jmpb.2025.369243.1950
  71. Hasanuzzaman M., Bhuyan M.H.M.B., Zulfiqar F., Raza A., Mohsin S.M., Mahmud J.A., Fujita M. Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense in plants under abiotic stress: Revisiting the crucial role of a universal defense regulator. Antioxidants. 2019; 8(12): 681. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8120681
  72. Afzal I., Basra S.M.A., Shahid M., Farooq M. Seed priming: a technique. In: Seed Enhancements. Springer. 2012; 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4116-7_1
  73. Chen K., Arora R. Priming memory invokes seed stress-tolerance. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2013; 94: 33–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2012.03.005
Journal of Medicinal plants and By-products
Volume 15, Issue 5
September and October 2026
Pages 594-606

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics