Effect of lead nitrate exposure on growth, some biochemical traits, and secondary metabolites in Capsella bursa-pastoris under hydroponic conditions

Mortazavi, Seyedeh Parisa; Mohtadi, Ahmad; Javanmard, Athar Sadat; Shahi Shavvon, Robabeh

doi:10.22059/ijfcs.2025.396466.655145

Effect of lead nitrate exposure on growth, some biochemical traits, and secondary metabolites in Capsella bursa-pastoris under hydroponic conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Seyedeh Parisa Mortazavi ¹

Ahmad Mohtadi ¹

Athar Sadat Javanmard ²

Robabeh Shahi Shavvon ¹

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.

² Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

10.22059/ijfcs.2025.396466.655145

Abstract

To assess the impact of lead nitrate-induced stress on Capsella bursa-pastoris, a completely randomized design experiment with four replicates was conducted in 2024 at the Plant Physiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Science, Yasouj University. Lead stress was induced by applying lead nitrate at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 µM under hydroponic conditions. The findings revealed that lead concentrations up to 50 µM caused no significant adverse impact on the measured parameters, exhibiting moderate tolerance C. bursa-pastoris to lead exposure. At a lead nitrate concentration of 100 µM, lead accumulation increased significantly in the root (624 µg g-1 dry weight) and shoot (15 µg g-1 dry weight), accompanied by reductions in dry weight of 67% in the root and 62% in the shoot. Exposure to 100 μM lead nitrate resulted in increases in several plant biochemical parameters, including soluble sugar content (by 50%), anthocyanins (by 293%), total flavonoids (by 41%), and soluble leaf proteins (by 65%) compared with the control. The enhanced synthesis of antioxidant compounds, such as anthocyanins and flavonoids, indicates the activation of defense mechanisms to counteract oxidative stress induced by lead exposure. The results indicate that C. bursa-pastoris can tolerate lead concentrations up to 50 µM; however, its growth is significantly impaired at higher levels. These findings highlight the species' potential as a promising candidate for phytoremediation research in heavy metal-contaminated soils.

Keywords

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Heavy metal

Phenolic compounds

Phytoremediation

Stress

Subjects