Combined application of citric acid and 5-aminolevulinic acid improved biomass, photosynthesis and gas exchange attributes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown on chromium contaminated soil

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an important technique to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The present study was conducted to assess the synergistic role of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and citric acid (CA) in improving the phyto-extraction of chromium (Cr) by sunflower. Sunflower plants were grown in soil, spiked with different concentrations of Cr (0, 5, 10, 20 mg kg⁻¹). Various concentrations of 5-ALA (0, 10, 20 mg L⁻¹) and CA (0, 2.5, 5 mM) were applied exogenously at juvenile stage. A significant decrease was observed in biomass and agronomic traits of sunflower under Cr stress alone. Further, Cr toxicity significantly decreased the plant growth, soluble proteins and photosynthetic pigments. However, exogenously applied ALA and CA significantly improved the plants’ physiological as well as agronomic attributes by lowering the production of reactive oxygen species and reducing electrolyte leakage. Moreover, Cr uptake was increased with increasing concentration of Cr in spiked soil, which was further enhanced by combined application of ALA and CA.

Keywords:

• Accumulation
• chelator
• chromium
• growth regulation
• photosynthetic pigments
• sunflower

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are thankful for the financial support from the Government College University, Faisalabad and Higher Education Commission, Pakistan under HEC Project No. 20-3653/NRPU/R&D/HEC/14/437 and NRPU Project No. 5634/Punjab/NRPU/R&D/HEC/2016.