The Change in Growth, Osmolyte Production and Antioxidant Enzymes Activity Explains the Cadmium Tolerance in Four Tree Species at the Saplings Stage

Phytoremediation is a green technology; however, very few species of arid environments have been identified as hyperaccumulators and fast growers. Therefore, greenhouse experiment was performed to evidence the phytoaccumulation potential Conocarpus erectus, Syzygium cumini, Populus deltoides Morus alba at sapling stage. Six-month-old plant saplings were subjected control (CK; 0 µM) cadmium treatments (Cd; CdCl2; 200 µM). The results depicted that growth, dry biomass production (leaf stem) chl a, b carotenoid contents decreased significantly in all four under Cd treatment; lowest decrease evidenced erectus. concentration hydrogen peroxide superoxide radical increased species, with highest increase observed alba. Osmolytes production, antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase ascorbate peroxidase) accumulation leaves, stem root treatment, translocation factor >1 Syzyngoim cumini <1 study revealed better tolerance which driven by effective osmolyte balance mechanism.