Abstract

Chromium (Cr) is a significant limiting abiotic factor that negatively impacts agricultural productivity globally. In Pakistan, it is present in water and soil, posing a significant problem for both plants and humans. Therefore, the current study assessed the effectiveness of ferulic acid (FA) application (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 mM) in reducing the phytotoxic effects of Cr (150 µM) in barley plants. Chromium stress led to a reduction in growth and chlorophyll content in plants, as well as oxidative damage. FA significantly improved growth and pigment content in plants under Cr stress, helping to mitigate oxidative stress by promoting redox homeostasis through enhanced detoxification of radicals. FA also increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), as well as the accumulation of osmolytes in barley plants under Cr toxicity. The accumulation of Cr content was minimal in plants administered with FA as foliar spray. Overall, FA enhanced tolerance in barley varieties under Cr stress, suggesting that foliar application of FA is a promising technique for mitigating Cr toxicity in barley plants and enabling their cultivation in soils with elevated Cr levels. In the future, FA may be used as an effective technique for stress management in other important crops facing abiotic stressors.