Understanding the role of magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticle to mitigate cadmium stress in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

Heavy metals stress particularly cadmium contamination is hotspot among researchers and considered highly destructive for both plants and human health. Iron is examined as most crucial element for plant development, but it is available in inadequate amount because they are present in insoluble Fe³⁺ form in soil. Fe₃O₄ have been recently found as growth promoting factor in plants. To understand, a sand pot experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (control, cadmium, 20 mg/L Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles,40 mg/L Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, 20 mg/L Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles + cadmium, 40 mg/L Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles + cadmium) to study the mitigating role of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on cadmium stress in three Raphanus sativus cultivars namely i.e., MOL SANO, MOL HOL PARI, MOL DAQ WAL. The plant growth, physiological and biochemical parameters i.e.,shoot length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh and dry weight, MDA content, soluble protein contents, APX, CAT, POD activities and ion concentrations, membrane permeability, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and anthocyanin content, respectively were studied. The results displayed that cadmium stress remarkably reduces all growth, physiological and biochemical parameters for allcultivars under investigation. However, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles mitigated the adverse effect of cadmium by improving growth, biochemical and physiological attributes in all radish cultivars. While, 20 mg/L Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have been proved to be more useful against cadmium stress. The outcome of present investigation displayed that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles can be utilized for mitigating heavy metal stress.