Biochemical and morphological adaptations of Ficus virens under cadmium-induced environmental stress conditions

Cadmium (Cd), a prevalent heavy metal pollutant, poses substantial threats to plant health, manifesting in altered growth and disrupted biochemical processes. This study investigates the growth behavior and biochemical responses of Ficus virens under cadmium stress. A controlled pot trial was conducted at the Forest Experimental Nursery, Institute of Forest Science, Baghdad-ul-Jadeed Campus, Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Six-month-old Ficus virens plants, uniform in size, age, and health, were transplanted into pots and subjected to varying concentrations of Cd: T1 (control), T2 (5 ppm), T3 (10 ppm), T4 (15 ppm), and T5 (20 ppm). Results indicated that plant growth was optimal at T1 (control) and significantly inhibited at T5 (20 ppm). Biochemical analysis revealed maximum levels of SOD, POD, CAT, and MDA (18.49 mg g⁻¹ protein, 0.954 mg g⁻¹ protein, 41.60 mg g⁻¹ protein, and 6.13 mg g⁻¹ protein, respectively) at T5, and minimum levels (1.94 mg g⁻¹ protein, 0.285 mg g⁻¹ protein, 3.05 mg g⁻¹ protein, and 1.88 mg g⁻¹ protein, respectively) at T1. Photosynthetic parameters, including Chl a, Chl b, total Chl, and carotenoids, were highest in the control group (1.73 mg g⁻¹ FW, 1.80 mg g⁻¹ FW, 1.56 mg g⁻¹ FW, and 0.93 mg g⁻¹ FW, respectively) and lowest at T5 (0.81 mg g⁻¹ FW, 0.75 mg g⁻¹ FW, 1.56 mg g⁻¹ FW, and 0.23 mg g⁻¹ FW, respectively).