Fulvic Acid Observations Associated to Physiologyand Biochemistry on Arsenic TreatedWheat (<i>Triticum Aestivum</i> L.)

The recent study aimed to determine whether the use of fulvic acid can enhance the inhibitory effects of arsenic stress on the growth and physiology of wheat, thereby inducing arsenic tolerance in wheat.One specific variety of wheat, known as Lasani wheat (Triticum aestivum L), was obtained from the Ayyub Agricultural Research Institute in Faisalabad, Pakistan.Seeds of this variety were planted in jars filled with sandy loamy soil (dimensions: 25 cm in height, circumference of 20 cm at the top, and 16 cm at the bottom).The research was conducted using a completely randomized design with three replicates.At the vegetative stage, wheat plants were subjected to one level of arsenic (3 mM) along with a control group.After 15 days of arsenic treatment, a foliar spray of fulvic acid (1.5 mM) was applied to the plants.Some plants received no spray, while others were sprayed with water.Tissue samples were collected after 21 days of treatment to assess growth, physiological, and biochemical characteristics.The results clearly showed that arsenic stress significantly affected the growth and physiochemical traits of wheat.Foliar application of fulvic acid increased various growth factors, such as root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight, and leaf area in wheat.Furthermore, fulvic acid enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including POD, SOD, APX, and CAT.It also increased the levels of total soluble protein, chlorophyll, proline, and total amino acids under arsenic stress.Malondialdehyde and H 2 O 2 levels increased under arsenic stress, but a foliar spray of fulvic acid mitigated the oxidative stress.All experimental data were analyzed using the software COSTAT through analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures.