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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Mediated
the Physiology and Cadmium Accumulation
of Maize (Zea mays) Seedlings
Under Cadmium Stress
1
Institute of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
Chengdu 610066, China
2
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Submission date: 2024-08-10
Final revision date: 2024-10-26
Acceptance date: 2024-11-10
Online publication date: 2025-01-29
Publication date: 2026-01-29
Corresponding author
Zhi Nie
Institute of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
Institute of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
Wenping Du
Institute of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
Institute of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2026;35(1):305-311
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
To mitigate the stress of cadmium (Cd) on crops and reduce Cd accumulation in crops, maize (Zea
mays) seedlings were treated with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 0.5 mmol L−1) irrigation under
Cd stress conditions. The effects of GABA on the physiology and Cd uptake of maize seedlings were
investigated through a pot experiment. Results showed that under Cd stress, applying 0.5 mmol L−1
exogenous GABA decreased maize seedling root and shoot biomass by 5.85% and 3.85%, respectively,
compared to Cd treatment alone. Exogenous GABA also reduced the levels of photosynthetic pigments
(chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid) in maize seedlings under Cd stress. Regarding antioxidant
enzyme activity, exogenous GABA increased the activities of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide
dismutase (SOD) in maize seedlings under Cd stress while having no effect on catalase activity.
In addition, exogenous GABA irrigation increased the concentrations of root Cd and shoot Cd
in maize seedlings by 11.93% and 23.22%, respectively, compared to Cd treatment alone. Therefore,
the irrigation of exogenous GABA (0.5 mmol L−1) is found to inhibit growth and promote Cd uptake
in maize seedlings under Cd stress conditions.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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