CaCl2seed priming stimulate nodulation and oleosome lipids formation in the root nodules of cadmium-treated faba bean plants

This study was designed to highlight the impact of calcium chloride (CaCl2) seed priming on faba bean nodulation and root nodule oleosomes under cadmium stress. In the un-primed plants, high Cd exposure (50 μM) led to a decrease in nodule number and dry weight by 63% and 76% respectively as compared to control. Furthermore, metal supply resulted in a decrease (by 46%) in lipid content and the level of saturated fatty acids of oleosomes. However, CaCl2 seed priming improved nodule number by 23% and 20% and dry weight by 34% and 7% at 0 and 50 μM Cd respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, results showed that CaCl2 alleviated adverse effects of Cd on oleosome lipid content and fatty acid composition. Overall, CaCl2 seed priming was effective to alleviate the detrimental effects of Cd on some physiological and biochemical characteristics of faba bean root-nodule.