Effect of Some Heavy Metals Accumulation on the Proteins Content of Zea mays L. Plant

This study aims to determine the potential impact of heavy metal pollution on plant cultivation and its proteins content. This study presents the effect of pollution with some heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, Zn) on total protein content during the vegetative growth stages of maize (Zea mays L.) plant via environmental indicators. Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn were measured in deposited dust, surface soil, and Maize plant (Zea mays L.) samples collected from two sites in Benha city, Egypt, as well as proteins in maize plant were evaluated. Additionally, Ecological indices [geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI) and contamination factor (CF)] were determined. The obtained data showed that, the average rate of dust falls in Benha city, Egypt reached to 15.41 g/m2 /month. The concentration levels of metals are arranged in the order of: Zn > Ni > Cd > pb in the deposited dust and maize plant, while they are arranged in the order of: Zn > Ni > pb > Cd in the surface soil. The wind rose of the meteorological parameters in Benha city shows that site 1 is on up wind direction, while site 2 is located down wind. Consequently, site 2 had higher deposition rates and higher levels of heavy metals than site 1. Furthermore, the total protein content was extremely affected as a result of the heavy metals stress, where the protein content significantly decreased in Site 2 plants compared to those of Site 1. Ecological indices showed that deposited dust and surface soils at site 2 were moderately to heavily pollute with Cd, while they were unpolluted with other metals (Pb, Ni, and Zn).