10.57647/AP.2026.1001.09

Assessing the Mitigation of Anthropogenic Cadmium Toxicity in Agricultural Soils: Selenium-Mediated Phytomanagement and Ecological Resilience Enhancement in the Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Food Web

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  • Hamid Adeli1,
  • Mehrdad Abdi*1,
  • Ali Faramarzi1,
  • Jalil Ajali1,
  • Naser Mohebalipour2,
  1. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Mi.C., Islamic Azad University, Miyaneh, Iran
  2. Department of Genetic and Plant Breeding, Mi.C.,Islamic Azad University, Miyaneh, Iran

Received: 2026-05-03

Revised: 2026-06-13

Accepted: 2026-06-15

Published in Issue 2026-06-30

Copyright (c) 2026 Hamid Adeli, Mehrdad Abdi, Ali Faramarzi, Jalil Ajali, Naser Mohebalipour (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Adeli, H., Abdi, M., Faramarzi, A., Ajali, J., & Mohebalipour, N. (2026). Assessing the Mitigation of Anthropogenic Cadmium Toxicity in Agricultural Soils: Selenium-Mediated Phytomanagement and Ecological Resilience Enhancement in the Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Food Web. Anthropogenic Pollution, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.57647/AP.2026.1001.09
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Abstract

Anthropogenic accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils heavily threatens ecological integrity and food web security through trophic transfer. To address this persistent challenge, the application of selenium (Se) has emerged as a novel approach in phytomanagement and bio-detoxification. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Se as an eco-modulator to mitigate Cd dynamics and enhance the ecological resilience of agricultural ecosystems. A comprehensive field and greenhouse experiment was conducted during 2023–2024 to assess the morpho-physiological responses of three wheat cultivars to various Se treatments under Cd stress. The study employed a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with a three-factor factorial arrangement: Se source (sodium selenate vs. sodium selenite), Se application rate (0, 18, or 36g/ha), and wheat genotype. Morphological indices and photosynthetic pigment levels were quantified to assess the extent of heavy metal-induced damage and the corresponding remediation efficiency. The findings revealed that Cd stress—particularly at destructive concentrations of 350, and 700 μM —led to a significant reduction in wheat biomass and photosynthetic pigments, posing a direct threat to the health of the agricultural food web. However, eco-intervention through Se application effectively mitigated anthropogenic Cd toxicity. Among the evaluated genotypes, the Pishtaz cultivar exhibited the highest level of resilience against Cd toxicity when treated with selenate. Specifically, treating the Pishtaz cultivar with sodium selenate at an optimal concentration of 3 mg L⁻¹ not only alleviated physiological damages induced by heavy metal pollution but also significantly promoted biomass stability. This Se-mediated phytomanagement approach offers a practical and effective ecological strategy for managing Cd-contaminated soils, detoxifying the food web, and safeguarding global food security against anthropogenic pollutants.

Keywords

  • Anthropogenic pollution,
  • Phytomanagement,
  • Bio-detoxification,
  • Selenium biofortification,
  • Cadmium toxicity,
  • Ecological resilience,
  • Triticum aestivum
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