Morphological, Biochemical and Antioxidative Enzyme Response of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum) Grown using Treated Wastewater

Treated wastewater is becoming increasingly important as an alternative irrigation source due to growing water scarcity and the need for sustainable farming practices. This study investigates the effects of treated wastewater on the morphological, biochemical and antioxidative enzyme responses of Lepidium sativum (garden cress), a fast-growing plant known for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. Plants were grown under controlled conditions using treated wastewater, with those irrigated with freshwater serving as controls. Morphological measures, such as germination rate, plant height, leaf area and biomass were recorded. Biochemical analyses assessed chlorophyll content, total protein levels and phenolic compounds, while activities of antioxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT) were measured to evaluate oxidative stress responses. The results show that plants irrigated with treated wastewater exhibited similar morphological traits to control plants, indicating minimal negative effects. However, changes in chlorophyll content and increased antioxidative enzyme activity suggest an adaptive response to residual contaminants. These findings highlight the potential of treated wastewater as a sustainable irrigation resource, provided proper monitoring is maintained to mitigate risks, like heavy metal buildup.