Growth, V uptake, and antioxidant enzymes responses of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under vanadium stress

Heavy metals pollution is one of the most challenging problems to the environment and agricultural soils in recent decades. The purpose of the present work was to elucidate the effects of vanadium (V) on growth, V uptake, protein content and enzymes activity to sort out the V-tolerant and the sensitive genotypes of chickpea under hydroponic conditions. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, and GSH, MDA) and protein contents were determined by using UV-1600 Spectrophotometer, and V concentration was determined by using GFAAS (GTA 120). The findings show that V significantly increased the enzymes activities in all chickpea genotypes however, V significantly reduced the protein contents, and more accumulation of V was observed in roots than shoots in all genotypes. The plant biomass and lengths of roots and shoots were also significantly reduced by V. Moreover, NH4VO3 caused more toxicity than Na3VO4. The previous studies report that higher activities of enzymes increase the tolerance of plants against stress. The obtained data of present study indicated that Noor-2009 and C-44 are tolerant and G-1 and Balkasar are sensitive genotypes of chickpea against V stress.