Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soil

Abstract Soil heavy metal pollution poses a significant environmental risk to human health and plant growth. Gibberellic acid (GA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are effective methods for resolving this issue. GA regulates growth mechanisms such as seed germination, flowering, and stem elongation. P...

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Main Authors: Saniha Shoaib, Rana Khalid Iqbal, Hina Ashraf, Uzma Younis, Muhammad Ayaz Rasool, Mohammad Javed Ansari, Abdullah A. Alarfaj, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96450-4
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author Saniha Shoaib
Rana Khalid Iqbal
Hina Ashraf
Uzma Younis
Muhammad Ayaz Rasool
Mohammad Javed Ansari
Abdullah A. Alarfaj
Sulaiman Ali Alharbi
author_facet Saniha Shoaib
Rana Khalid Iqbal
Hina Ashraf
Uzma Younis
Muhammad Ayaz Rasool
Mohammad Javed Ansari
Abdullah A. Alarfaj
Sulaiman Ali Alharbi
author_sort Saniha Shoaib
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Soil heavy metal pollution poses a significant environmental risk to human health and plant growth. Gibberellic acid (GA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are effective methods for resolving this issue. GA regulates growth mechanisms such as seed germination, flowering, and stem elongation. Plants use GABA, a signaling molecule, to control physiological processes, growth, and responses to stress. This substance plays a crucial role in the interactions between hormones and plant defense, as evidenced by its effects on photosynthesis, food absorption, and stomatal behavior. The study aimed to determine how GABA and GA amendments affected tomato plants under no toxicity and Pb toxicity. The study included four treatments (0, GA, GABA, and GA + GABA) in four replications following a completely randomized design. Notably, the GA + GABA treatment led to considerable enhancements in fresh weight (88.98%), dry weight (68.28%), shoot length (39.98%), and root length (115.43%) compared to the control under Pb toxicity. Moreover, GA + GABA treatment significantly increased tomato chlorophyll a (161.72%), chlorophyll b (93.33%), and total chlorophyll content (112.45%) under Pb stress toxicity, confirming the effectiveness of GA + GABA treatment. In conclusion, GA + GABA is recommended as the best amendment to mitigate Pb stress in tomato plants. Our findings have broader implications for GA + GABA application, offering a potential technology to enhance sustainable crop production by improving plant growth and yield in Pb-contaminated soils. More investigations are suggested at field levels under different agroclimates on different crops for the declaration of GA + GABA as the best amendment for alleviating different heavy metal pollutions and sustainable agriculture productions.
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spelling doaj-art-a2d23f2d596d4796b51df22185a2e98b2025-08-20T02:12:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-96450-4Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soilSaniha Shoaib0Rana Khalid Iqbal1Hina Ashraf2Uzma Younis3Muhammad Ayaz Rasool4Mohammad Javed Ansari5Abdullah A. Alarfaj6Sulaiman Ali Alharbi7Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya UniversityDepartment of Biology, University of PadovaDepartment of Botany, The Government Sadiq College Women UniversityBotany Department, The Islamia University of BahawalpurBotany Department, The Islamia University of BahawalpurDepartment of Botany, Hindu College Moradabad, (Guru Jambheshwar University, Moradabad)Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityAbstract Soil heavy metal pollution poses a significant environmental risk to human health and plant growth. Gibberellic acid (GA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are effective methods for resolving this issue. GA regulates growth mechanisms such as seed germination, flowering, and stem elongation. Plants use GABA, a signaling molecule, to control physiological processes, growth, and responses to stress. This substance plays a crucial role in the interactions between hormones and plant defense, as evidenced by its effects on photosynthesis, food absorption, and stomatal behavior. The study aimed to determine how GABA and GA amendments affected tomato plants under no toxicity and Pb toxicity. The study included four treatments (0, GA, GABA, and GA + GABA) in four replications following a completely randomized design. Notably, the GA + GABA treatment led to considerable enhancements in fresh weight (88.98%), dry weight (68.28%), shoot length (39.98%), and root length (115.43%) compared to the control under Pb toxicity. Moreover, GA + GABA treatment significantly increased tomato chlorophyll a (161.72%), chlorophyll b (93.33%), and total chlorophyll content (112.45%) under Pb stress toxicity, confirming the effectiveness of GA + GABA treatment. In conclusion, GA + GABA is recommended as the best amendment to mitigate Pb stress in tomato plants. Our findings have broader implications for GA + GABA application, offering a potential technology to enhance sustainable crop production by improving plant growth and yield in Pb-contaminated soils. More investigations are suggested at field levels under different agroclimates on different crops for the declaration of GA + GABA as the best amendment for alleviating different heavy metal pollutions and sustainable agriculture productions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96450-4Plant healthRestorationLead toxicityγ-Aminobutyric acidGibberellic acidGrowth attributes
spellingShingle Saniha Shoaib
Rana Khalid Iqbal
Hina Ashraf
Uzma Younis
Muhammad Ayaz Rasool
Mohammad Javed Ansari
Abdullah A. Alarfaj
Sulaiman Ali Alharbi
Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soil
Scientific Reports
Plant health
Restoration
Lead toxicity
γ-Aminobutyric acid
Gibberellic acid
Growth attributes
title Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soil
title_full Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soil
title_fullStr Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soil
title_full_unstemmed Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soil
title_short Mitigating effect of γ-aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in Pb-polluted soil
title_sort mitigating effect of γ aminobutyric acid and gibberellic acid on tomato plant cultivated in pb polluted soil
topic Plant health
Restoration
Lead toxicity
γ-Aminobutyric acid
Gibberellic acid
Growth attributes
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96450-4
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