Biochemical and phytoremediation of Plantago major L. to protect tomato plants from the contamination of cypermethrin pesticide.

Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly therapy to minimize soil pollution. Cypermethrin (CYP) is one of the most frequently used pyrethroid insecticides against a variety of pests. We aimed at evaluating the potential of using an economic plant like tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as a control alone and together with Plantago major L. (PM) for the uptake of CYP residue from contaminated soil, also, investigating the antioxidant enzymes such as (SOD, POD, and CAT) in roots of PM and tomato. For the first time, we studied the intercropping between PM on tomato plants for the uptake of CYP residue from contaminated soil and phytoremediation of PM as a curative plant to save tomato plants from CYP residue. In a pot experiment, we have cultivated PM and tomato in soil polluted with CYP (10 μg g-1). Data showed that PM and tomato accumulated significant amounts of CYP in their tissues. However, PM is better than tomato in uptake CYP from the soil. The longest half-life value (t1/2) of CYP was in PM + tomato together treatment (12.7 days), and the shortest was in the soil with tomato alone (6.81 days). Moreover, the activity of SOD, POD, and CAT in treated tomato and PM roots significantly (p > 0.05) exceeded control plants after 8 days from exposure. In this study, a good strategy was recommended to uptake CYP residue from soil by PM and protect tomato plants from CYP residue as well as safe for human and non-target organisms.