The effect of naphthalen-1-yl 2,4,6-trimethyl benzenesulfonate on micronutrient and elemental balance in Zea mays L. Under cadmium stress

This study explores the potential of Naphthalen-1-yl 2, 4, 6-trimethyl benzenesulfonate (NTB) in improving micronutrient efficiency and elemental status in Zea mays L. under cadmium (Cd) stress. Three-week-old maize seedlings were pre-treated with NTB (0.25 mM) and exposed to 100 µM Cd stress. The results demonstrate that NTB treatment significantly increased the accumulation of essential micronutrients, including zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), with values of 3.35 ± 0.7 mg kg⁻¹ DW for Zn, 5.94 ± 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ DW for Fe, and 1.17 ± 0.02 mg kg⁻¹ DW for Cu, compared to Cd stress alone. In contrast, manganese (Mn) content was reduced in the NTB + Cd treatment (9.93 ± 1.4 mg kg⁻¹ DW). Additionally, NTB treatment enhanced carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) contents, reaching 46.65 ± 0.3% and 6.02 ± 0.09%, respectively, while nitrogen (N) content decreased to 2.37 ± 0.3% under Cd stress. Despite this decrease in N, NTB effectively mitigated the negative effects of cadmium, highlighting its potential to improve nutrient uptake, optimize elemental balance, and enhance plant resilience under heavy metal stress.