From the report «Triacontanol is a potent alleviator of stress induced by salt and heavy metal contamination in plants«, of Shamiya Jahan, Sheela Rautela, Aman Sobia Chishti, Deepti Shankhdhar, S.C. Shankhdhar, Alok Srivastava, and Sanjay Kumar Garg, published at Science direct.
Excessive salt and heavy metal accumulation in soils generates oxidative stress in plants, disrupting metabolic processes, impairing photosynthesis, and ultimately reducing growth and yield. These contaminants damage cellular structures, degrade pigments and proteins, and alter nutrient uptake, leading to physiological disorders such as chlorosis, necrosis, and reduced reproductive success. These stresses are widespread and difficult to mitigate through conventional means.
Triacontanol (TRIA), a long‑chain primary alcohol naturally present in epicuticular waxes, is presented as a potent growth regulator with strong stress‑alleviating properties. It enhances nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, transpiration, nutrient uptake, and fruit ripening, but its most notable role is strengthening plant defense systems under contamination stress. TRIA stimulates antioxidant production, osmolyte accumulation, and secondary metabolite synthesis, which collectively detoxify reactive oxygen species generated by salt and heavy metals. It also interacts with hormonal pathways involving jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene, modulating stress‑response gene networks.
The review compiles extensive evidence showing that TRIA improves plant performance under salinity by enhancing chlorophyll content, photosystem II efficiency, CO₂ fixation, gas exchange, and germination rates in several crops, including wheat, rice, cucumber, and Brassica species. Under heavy metal stress, TRIA increases activities of key antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate-related enzymes, reducing toxicity from metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic. It also facilitates nutrient uptake (Ca, P, K, Mg, Zn), which supports metabolic stability under contaminated conditions.
At the molecular level, the article notes that TRIA triggers rapid signaling events involving calcium and magnesium ions and the secondary messenger L(+)-adenosine, which modulate transcription factors such as MYB and CAMTA3. It up‑regulates genes related to photosynthesis, chlorophyll metabolism, aquaporins, lignification, and hormone signaling, contributing to improved water balance, structural reinforcement, and delayed senescence. Overall, the review concludes that triacontanol is an effective endogenous regulator capable of mitigating oxidative stress from salt and heavy metal contamination while enhancing plant growth, productivity, and resilience in changing environmental conditions.