Biochemical, Physiological, and Nutrient Acquisition Response of Wheat Cultivars to Nickel and Vanadium Toxicity

Anthropogenic activities increased heavy metals in agricultural systems, increasing nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V) concentrations. Wheat, being an assurance of food security worldwide, can be severely affected by the presence of Ni and V in the soil system. Wheat cultivars possess varied responses to Ni and V. Hence, it seems logical to explore the innate potential of different cultivars to fight against these heavy metals. In the present study, five wheat cultivars were exposed to different Ni and V concentrations. To evaluate the innate tolerance of wheat cultivars to Ni and V toxicity, germination profile, starch metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activities, metabolites, membrane stability index, and ions uptake by wheat seedlings were recorded. Results depicted that wheat cultivars showed differential responses to Ni and V toxicity. The cultivar AARI-2011 performed better than other cultivars in terms of studied parameters. Hence, it can be concluded that the above-mentioned parameters can be employed to explore wheat cultivars’ tolerance to Ni and V.