Amaranthus viridis-derived phytopriming reprograms redox homeostasis and limits arsenic accumulation in rice

Abstract

Arsenic (As) poses a major threat to rice productivity and food safety due to its high bioaccumulation potential and subsequent entry into the human food chain. In rice, As impairs seed germination, disrupts morpho-anatomical development, and induces oxidative stress. This study evaluates seed priming with an aqueous extract of the agricultural weed Amaranthus viridis (AvE) as a sustainable strategy to alleviate As-induced phytotoxicity. AvE priming significantly improved germination (71-75%) and morpho-physiological performance under As stress. It reduced oxidative stress markers, including H2O2 (21-38%), malondialdehyde (13-26%), and proline (18.9-44.7%), while increasing antioxidant metabolites, polyphenols and glutathione by up to 2.34-fold and 41%, respectively. Microscopy confirmed restoration of cellular integrity and anatomical organisation in primed seedlings. ICP-OES analysis showed that AvE priming reduced root As uptake by up to 39%, root-to-shoot translocation by up to 58%, and grain As accumulation by up to 95% compared with unprimed plants. qRT-PCR revealed modulation of genes involved in As homeostasis, indicating coordinated physiological and transcriptional responses. Importantly, improved agronomic performance further demonstrated the translational potential of this approach. This study provides the first evidence that A. viridis extract is a cost-effective, sustainable biostimulant for producing low-As rice in contaminated regions.