Enhancing Cadmium Tolerance in Common Bean Plants by Seed Priming with Putrescine

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 9 - 10

Hilal Yılmaz , Vahdettin Çiftçi

https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1608037

Abstract

This study highlights the potential of putrescine seed priming in alleviating cadmium-induced oxidative stress in common bean plants. Cadmium exposure significantly increased oxidative stress markers, such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), while reducing antioxidative enzyme activities, including ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Putrescine treatments, particularly at higher concentrations (0.5 and 1 mmol), significantly enhanced antioxidative defenses by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and APX activities and reducing H₂O₂ accumulation, thereby mitigating oxidative damage. The results also revealed improvements in photosynthetic performance with putrescine application. Higher chlorophyll a content, an improved chlorophyll a/b ratio, and increased total carotenoid levels were observed, indicating enhanced photosynthetic efficiency under cadmium stress. Among the treatments, Cd-P3 (1 mmol putrescine) showed the most substantial improvements, effectively reversing the adverse effects of cadmium on photosynthetic pigments and physiological health.
In addition to its effects on photosynthesis, putrescine enhanced the accumulation of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which contributed to the plants’ antioxidant capacity. These improvements were evidenced by higher DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP values, highlighting the strong antioxidative potential of putrescine. Overall, this study demonstrates that putrescine seed priming is an effective and sustainable strategy for reducing cadmium toxicity in plants. By modulating antioxidant systems, stabilizing photosynthetic pigments, and promoting bioactive compound synthesis, putrescine enhances plant resilience to heavy metal stress. These findings provide a basis for further research into the application of putrescine in agricultural practices to improve crop tolerance to abiotic stresses.

Keywords

Putrescine Seed Priming, Cadmium Stress Mitigation, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity, Photosynthetic Pigment Stabilization, Heavy Metal Stress Tolerance

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