The effect of melatonin solution spraying on morphological and physiological indices of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) under cadmium stress.

Samar Heshmati¹ Behrooz Esmailpoor² Rasoul Azarmi³ Saeid Azizzadeh namin⁴

1) Master s student, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil,
2) Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.
3) Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.
4) Master s student, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.

IOI Code : AZAA-AZEDDB
Publication : 1ST International Congress of Nature-based Ecological Restoration (Emphasizing the Conservation of Bactrian Camels)(neruma.ir)
Abstract :
    Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), belonging to the nightshade family, is one of the most popular and widely consumed vegetables in the world. Cultivating vegetables in soils contaminated with heavy metals can have serious consequences for human health and the environment. Cadmium is considered one of the most important and toxic heavy metals that, if it enters the food chain, can jeopardize human health. To evaluate the effect of the growth-promoting bacterium Pseudomonas on the growth and physiological characteristics of the Clavesol RZ bell pepper cultivar under cadmium stress, an experiment was conducted in a factorial design based on a completely randomized design with four replications during the year 1402 in the research greenhouse of Mohaghegh Ardabili University. The experimental factors included the application of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) along with nutrient solution at three levels (0, 75, and 150 micromoles) and foliar spraying with melatonin at three levels (0, 75, and 150 micromoles). The results showed that increasing cadmium concentration led to a decrease in leaf area, dry weight of the plant, and dry weight of the root. Conversely, with the increase in cadmium concentration, the parameters of malondialdehyde (65.5% increase) and proline (32.3% increase) also increased. Additionally, foliar spraying with melatonin significantly mitigated the effects of stress in the stressed plants and increased growth parameters in the non-stressed plants. Overall, the results of this study indicate that cadmium toxicity causes disturbances in the growth, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of bell pepper plants, while foliar spraying with melatonin improves these parameters and mitigates the toxic effects of cadmium.

Keywords : heavy metals growth indicators growth regulators