Physiological and Elemental analysis of Triticum aestivum for HMAs gene family under Zinc and Copper metal stress

Abstract

Agriculture is the main occupation of around 80% of people living in rural areas. Hence playing a primary role in improving their livelihoods, income, and food. The industrialization has accelerated in tandem with global economic growth. One of the negative consequences of rapid industrialization is heavy metal pollution. Its contamination has the potential to harm human health via food chains. In this study morphological characteristics of Triticum aestivum were observed to be affected by the uptake and accumulation of various amounts of zinc and copper metal under controlled glasshouse conditions using the hydroponic technique. Dharabi-11 variety (moderately sensitive and drought tolerant) of wheat was selected for this research. The concentration of 50 µM and 100 µM Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and Copper chloride (CuCl2) were added for moderate and toxic treatment respectively. One-way ANOVA analysis of phenotypic data obtained under different duration of treatments showed non significant effects as compared to the control groups. Heavy metal ATPases (HMA) are integral membrane proteins that help in the translocation of heavy metals in plants. Previously 9 HMA genes (HMA1 to HMA9) were reported. The current study has just focused on HMA1 gene.