Growth and physiological response of muskmelon seedlings treated with nano-iron oxide and biochar under cadmium stress

doi:10.14088/j.cnki.issn0439-8114.2025.10.020

Abstract

Abstract: To investigate the alleviating effect of nano iron oxide and biochar composite treatment on cadmium stress in melon seedlings under hydroponic conditions. This study used sweet melon seedlings as experimental materials and applied cadmium, biochar, α-Fe₂O₃ NPs, γ-Fe₂O₃ NPs, Fe₃O₄ NPs, as well as a composite treatment of biochar and various nano iron oxides in hydroponics. Multiple physiological indicators of sweet melon seedlings were detected, and principal component analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of each treatment on alleviating cadmium stress in sweet melon seedlings. The cadmium transfer coefficient TF (0.22%-0.28%) of the composite treatment group was lower than that of other cadmium treatment groups (0.34%-0.64%). Compared with the Cd group, the fresh weight, root length, and leaf SP content of the γ-Fe₂O₃ NPs and biochar composite treatment group significantly increased by 62.41%, 125.22%, and 28.97%, respectively. In the roots, the antioxidant enzyme activity of each treatment group was lower than that of the CK group. In the leaves, the CAT activity of each treatment group was significantly reduced compared to the CK group; The group with the highest activities of APX, POD, and SOD was the Fe₃O₄ NPs treatment group, while the groups with the closest enzyme activities to the CK group were the biochar treatment group and the γ-Fe₂O₃ NPs treatment group. Through principal component analysis, it was found that the combination of γ-Fe₂O₃ NPs and biochar was superior to other combinations and could be used to enhance the growth performance of melon seedlings in cadmium contaminated environments.

Key words: nano-iron oxide, biochar, cadmium, hydroponics, muskmelon

CLC Number:

LI Hao-tian, LI Jun-li, XIA Peng, WANG Shou-yue, HUANG Jia-li, WANG Yun-qiang. Growth and physiological response of muskmelon seedlings treated with nano-iron oxide and biochar under cadmium stress[J]. HUBEI AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, 2025, 64(10): 131-139.

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