Assessing the role of EDTA and SA in mustard under Cd and Pb stress

Phytoextraction is an economically viable and environmentally sustainable method for approaching heavy metal-polluted soils. Pollen grains are notably more susceptible to pollutants compared to other parts of the plant. However, in polluted environments, certain metals like lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) may have limited bioavailability, posing significant challenges to the phytoextraction process. One way to overcome this limitation is by employing chelators. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design to investigate the effects of two chelators, EDTA and salicylic acid (SA), in enhancing the plant water status, biochemicals and reproductive parameters of Brassica juncea seedlings. These seedlings were sown in pots and subjected to various treatments of Cd and Pb of concentrations 10 and 20 mM, either alone or in combination with 0.5 mM EDTA and SA. The toxicity induced by Pb and Cd in B. juncea was recorded through decreased levels of osmotic potential in leaves and roots and decreased leaf chlorophyll content. Additionally, various reproductive parameters, including pollen viability, pollen germination, and in-vitro pollen germination, were highly affected by stress. Conversely, the supplementation of EDTA and SA to Cd, and Pb-treated plants effectively mitigated the negative impact of heavy metal stress by increasing osmotic potential, chlorophyll content, and reproductive parameters. Notably, EDTA and SA also significantly increased Pb and Cd accumulation. The result demonstrates the potential of EDTA and SA in improving plant reproductive biology.