Mitigating chromium stress on pea (Pisum sativum L.) by foliar application of trehalose

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Pea ( <italic>Pisum sativum</italic> L.) is a valuable legume crop known for its high protein content and role in improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. This study tested how foliar application of trehalose can help two pea varieties (Supreme and Meteor) grow better under chromium stress. When exposed to 100 µM Cr, shoot fresh weight dropped by 12.4% and 19.2%, root length by 16.2% and 16.1%, and total chlorophyll by 13.6% and 14.3% in Supreme and Meteor, respectively. However, applying 10 mM trehalose improved shoot fresh weight by 18.4% and 19.1%, root dry weight by 59.8% and 46.6%, and total chlorophyll by 29.2% and 19.3% respectively. Trehalose also lowered hydrogen peroxide by 7.6% and 3.8% and malondialdehyde (MDA) by 40.0% and 30.1% in Supreme and Meteor, showing reduced cell damage. Antioxidant enzyme activity increased, and ion balance improved root K ⁺ by 47.9 and 51.8% and root Ca ²⁺ by 48.1% and 55.8%, while Na ⁺ decreased by up to 24.8% and 35.4%. Trehalose could be a useful option for growing crops in polluted soils. The broader use of trehalose in field conditions, as well as its function in controlling important metabolic pathways to heavy metals stress tolerance, should be investigated in future research.