Iron nanoparticles mitigates cadmium toxicity in Triticum aestivum; Modulation of antioxidative defense system and physiochemical characteristics

Present study is carried out to check the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) on mitigating the heavy metal (HM) stress in wheat. For this purpose, IONPs were used in an attempt to ameliorate cadmium stress in wheat plants. IONPs were synthesized by using the husk of Cocos nucifera. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by using SEM and particle size analyzer. Wheat seedlings were treated with 10–1000 mg/L IONPs. The selected concentrations of IONPs (100, 300, and 500 mg/L) were used for next experiment of pot with soil drench irrigation. Growth parameters (shoot length, root length, number of roots, biomass, spike length, weight, and number of seeds/plant), biochemical and stress parameters (chlorophyll, sugar, proline, protein, phenolics, MDA, H2O2 and antioxidant enzyme analysis, elemental analysis) were studied. Results showed that the application of IONPs increased shoot length, root length, number of seeds, fresh weight, dry weight, spike length, and number of seeds of wheat plants by 37.5, 68, 81.25, 50, 100, 33, and 14.28% respectively with IONPs treatment. Biochemical attributes were also improved by using IONPs. Stress indicators showed that MDA and H2O2 were reduced by IONPs (by 31.91 and 30.76% respectively) whereas phenolics, proline, and antioxidant enzyme activity was increased (by 25, 40, and 55% respectively). IONPs treated plants had lesser or no cadmium content with the higher iron content of leaves It showed that IONPs have strongly positive effects on mitigating cadmium stress in wheat plants.