GREMMLENZ UNICAMP

Summary

In the contemporary era, the profound impacts of climate change on crop growth have become increasingly evident, resulting in a significant reduction in productivity. Environmental stressors, such as extreme temperatures, high salinity, and hydric restrictions, contribute to elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within plant cells (Zandalinas, Fritschi & Mittler, 2021). Plants, in response to these challenges, have evolved sophisticated acclimatization mechanisms to confer tolerance to diverse environmental stress conditions. However, when the surplus ROS overwhelms the plant’s endogenous defense mechanism, oxidative stress ensues, leading to cellular damage and, ultimately, plant death (Raza et al., 2019).

Effectively addressing these challenges requires a strategic focus on modern agricultural practices, prioritizing strategies to mitigate the consequences of climate change and ensuring sustained food availability for the continuously growing global population. The diverse array of environmental stressors has propelled the exploration of multifaceted approaches contributing to sustainable agriculture. Notably, the role of enzymatic defenses, particularly metalloenzymes like superoxide dismutase and peroxidases, equipped with metal cofactors such as Cu(II)/Zn(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II), becomes pivotal in managing oxidative stress.

Furthermore, in combating oxidative stress induced by heavy metal exposure, the application of fertilizers containing essential micronutrients emerges as a promising solution. Elements such as boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn), when applied at low concentrations through foliar or soil application, can trigger and activate antioxidative enzymes. This cascade effect extends to non-oxidizing and sugar metabolic pathways, collectively contributing to the mitigation of oxidative stress damage. Consequently, plants treated with these micronutrients showcase enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress and attain a superior nutritional status.

Exploring the intricate relationship between the molecular structure of metal complexes and their ROS mitigation potential adds another layer of sophistication to this research. For instance, while CuSO4 or CuCl2 may induce oxidative stress, Cu(II) complexes with bidentate or tridentante ligands have shown promise in mitigating oxidative stress. Unraveling the correlation between the molecular structure of these complexes and their impact on ROS mitigation holds the key to developing targeted strategies for enhancing plant resilience. This is the main point of the project: understanding the correlation of coordination chemistry of these metals and ROS mitigation or induction.

In conclusion, the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and heavy metal exposure necessitate a holistic approach to modern agriculture. By understanding and harnessing the potential of enzymatic defenses, strategic micronutrient application, and unraveling the molecular intricacies of metal complexes, we pave the way for sustainable agriculture that ensures both environmental resilience and global food security.