{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,25]],"date-time":"2026-08-25T10:23:19Z","timestamp":1787653399066,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":66,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787011200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":48,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J of Env Quality"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Lead (Pb) toxicity significantly undermines agricultural productivity and food safety by disrupting plant growth and vital physiological functions, highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches to enhance nutrient uptake and utilization. In this context, the use of lysine\u2013metal complexes emerges as a crucial strategy, not only mitigating Pb toxicity but also optimizing mineral nutrient acquisition in plants, thereby supporting essential physiological processes and improving overall plant resilience. This study investigated the efficacy of lysine\u2013metal complexes (copper\u2013lysine [Cu\u2013Lys], magnesium\u2013lysine [Mg\u2013Lys], and calcium\u2013lysine [Ca\u2013Lys]) in alleviating Pb\u2010induced stress in maize (\n                    <jats:italic>Zea mays<\/jats:italic>\n                    L.) through the enhancement of growth attributes, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant defense, and cellular mechanisms. A pot experiment was conducted at Zayed University, UAE, where Pb was applied at 0, 100, and 200\u00a0mg kg\n                    <jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>\n                    soil using Pb(NO\n                    <jats:sub>3<\/jats:sub>\n                    )\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    , and foliar treatments of Lys\u2013metal complexes (10\u00a0mg L\n                    <jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>\n                    ) were applied weekly, starting 14 days after sowing. The results revealed that Pb stress significantly reduced plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange, and biomass, accompanied by increased oxidative stress markers such as hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde. However, Lys\u2013metal complexes, particularly copper\u2013lysine complex (Cu\u2013Lys), markedly improved growth, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange parameters, and antioxidant activities, including the AsA\u2013GSH cycle and enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase). Proline accumulation and modulation of cellular fractionation were observed, leading to reduced Pb translocation and enhanced Pb immobilization in the cell wall. Among the treatments, Cu\u2013Lys demonstrated superior effectiveness, followed by magnesium\u2013lysine complex (Mg\u2013Lys) and Ca\u2013Lys. In conclusion, Lys\u2013metal complexes mitigate Pb toxicity by improving physiological and biochemical responses, reducing Pb uptake, and enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of Cu\u2013Lys, Mg\u2013Lys, and Ca\u2013Lys as sustainable strategies to enhance\n                    <jats:italic>Z<\/jats:italic>\n                    .\n                    <jats:italic>mays<\/jats:italic>\n                    resilience in Pb\u2010contaminated environments.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/jeq2.70238","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T07:14:46Z","timestamp":1787037286000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Lysine\u2013metal complexes modulate nutrient and gene responses in Pb\u2010stressed maize (\n                    <i>Zea mays<\/i>\n                    L.)"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"55","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1144-3125","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manar Fawzi","family":"Bani Mfarrej","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability, College of Natural and Health Sciences Zayed University  Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirate"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dalal Nasser","family":"Binjawhar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry, College of science Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University  Riyadh Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sajb.2023.08.005"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-015-4496-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_4_1","first-page":"121","volume-title":"Methods in enzymology","author":"Aebi H.","year":"1984"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-024-31977-z"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10725-022-00940-8"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00344-024-11345-4"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sajb.2023.06.024"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3233\/AJW240078"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s42729-024-01825-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2023.168208"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-84648-x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.110.2865.554"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/su142013288"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_15_1","first-page":"395","article-title":"Prospects for genetically increasing the photosynthetic capacity of crops","volume":"10","author":"Austin R. 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