Nitric oxide alleviates cadmium-impeded growth by limiting ROS accumulation in pea seedlings

Cadmium (Cd) causes oxidative stress, which leads to the oxidation of various biomolecules by production reactive oxygen species (ROS) facilitate programmed cell death (PCD). The antioxidant defense system fails detoxify ROS when it is produced in excess. Nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous free radical and phytohormone, regulates physiological processes plants. Therefore, this work was undertaken study effects application exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP, NO donor) on growth parameters, accumulation secondary metabolites, activities enzymes under Cd stress. Mild (50 µM) severe (200 stress were applied hydroponically grown pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants with or without 50 µM SNP. Severe had substantial impact effectiveness reducing Cd-induced negative plant height, fresh weight, dry protein content, nitrite nitrate reductase (NR) activity, catalase peroxidase activity investigated. Seedling development, systems disruption, overproduction species, damage observed. (catalase activities) activated NO, resulted lower lipid peroxidation hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels Cd-exposed SNP treatment boosted endogenous NR Cd-stressed while also enhanced proline preserve osmotic equilibrium. presence total phenols flavonoids increased after treatment, indicating that recovery development