Antioxidant glutathione enhances Citrus aurantium L. seedlings growth under lead stress

Abstract

Heavy metals contamination in our environment is the most significant and growing problem these days due to their cumulative toxicity and non-biodegradability, leading to be stability in the ecosystem for long periods. The accumulation of pollutants in the environment has a negative aspect, affecting the various components of our ecosystem and causing numerous risky effects on plants and humans. The mitigation of perilous effect of heavy metals through ecofriendly substances is being urgent necessity. Current study provides evidence about mantioxidant glutathione efficiency to ameliorate Citrus aurantium L. seedlings growth that grown under lead stress. Obtained result indicated that glutathione enhanced vegetative growth traits of sour orange seedlings including plants heigh, branches number and length, leaves number, leaf area index, weight and dry weight of leaves and biomass percentage of leaves. In short, glutathione increased C. aurantium seedling tolerance to the lead stress by promoting their vegetative growth and enhancing their capacity to pollutants adaptation.