Cadmium (Cd), heavy metal, is not only harmful to the growth of plants but also poses a threat to human health. It is particularly important to eva‎luate the effects of cadmium in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) given its widespread use as a staple food source for human consumption. Hence this study aimed to eva‎luate the impact of cadmium stress on gene expression and antioxidant enzyme activity in wheat, focusing on the ZIP3 and ZIP5 genes across different growth stages and replace with of wheat cultivars. A pot experiment was conducted using three wheat cultivars: Barat, Pishtaz, and Morvarid, grown in pots with soil treated with three cadmium concentrations: C0 (0 mg/kg), C1 (5 mg/kg), and C2 (10 mg/kg). Soil characteristics were analyzed, and cadmium was applied using cadmium nitrate. After planting, samples were taken from leaf blades, leaf sheaths, and roots at three growth stages: tillering, booting, and flowering. Gene expression was assessed using RT-qPCR, while the activity of catalase and peroxidase enzymes was measured spectrophotometrically. The results indicated that the expression of the ZIP3 gene was highest in the Pishtaz cultivar at 5 mg/kg cadmium, particularly in the flowering stage, while the Barat cultivar exhibited the lowest expression. For the ZIP5 gene, Pishtaz also showed the highest expression across all tissues and growth stages. Antioxidant enzyme activity analysis revealed that catalase activity increased with cadmium concentration, particularly in the root tissue of the Barat cultivar, while peroxidase activity generally decreased in root tissues under cadmium stress. These findings suggest that cadmium significantly affects gene expression and antioxidant enzyme activity, with variations observed across different wheat cultivars and growth stages.

ابوذر سورني , بدرالدين ابراهيم سيدطباطبايي

رحيم مهرابي

احمد ارزاني , مهدي رحيم ملك