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  • Integrative moringa and lic...
    Desoky, El-Sayed M.; Elrys, Ahmed S.; Rady, Mostafa M.

    Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 03/2019, Letnik: 169
    Journal Article

    Green approaches for improving plant performance using natural supplementations are highly seeking. Following a preliminary study conducted on contaminated saline (EC = 7.75 dS m−1) and normal (EC = 1.4 dS m−1) soils, two main field trials were conducted to study the potential effects of licorice root (LRE; 0.5%) and moringa seed (MSE; 0.5%) extracts, supplemented to soil through irrigation water (SA) and/or as foliar spray (FS), on performance, physio-biochemical components, antioxidant defense system, and contaminants contents of Capsicum annuum plants grown on heavy metals-contaminated saline soil. Both extracts were applied in single treatments such as LRE-SA, MSE-SA, LRE-FS, and MSE-FS or in integrations like LRE-SA+LRE-FS, LRE-SA+MSE-FS, MSE-SA+LRE-FS, and MSE-SA+MSE-FS. The preliminary study results showed significant reductions in plant performance (growth and yield), chlorophylls content and significant increase in Cd content due to heavy metals and salt stress. However, LRE and MSE applied singly or in combinations positively modified these parameters compared to the control (SA and FS were applied with tap water). On the other hand, these parameters were not responded to LRE and/or MSE applications on the normal soil. The main studies results showed that all single or integrative treatments significantly increased plant growth and yield, leaf contents of leaf photosynthetic pigments, free proline, total soluble sugars, N, P, and K+, ratio of K+/Na+, and activities of CAT, POX, APX, SOD, and GR. In contrast, contaminants; Na+, Cd, Cu, Pb and Ni contents in plant leaves and fruits were significantly reduced on heavy metals-contaminated saline soil compared to the control. Additionally, all integrative treatments significantly exceeded all single treatments in this concern. The integrative MSE-SA+LRE-FS was the best treatment that is recommended to be used to maximize pepper plant performances and minimize plant contaminant contents on contaminated saline soils. •Plant extracts (MSE+LRE) application improved growth and yield of doubled stressed (salinity+heavy metal) pepper plants.•Plant enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were improved by MSE+LRE application.•Mineral nutrients were restored in doubled stressed pepper plants by MSE+LRE application.•MSE+LRE application declined heavy metals accumulation in leaves and fruits of stressed plants.