Aminoglycoside Antibiotics on Germination and Post-Germination Characteristics and Biochemical Profile of Three Cowpea Varieties of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp

The widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture and their environmental presence raises concerns about non-target effects on plants. This study investigated the impact of various aminoglycoside antibiotics on germination, post-germination growth, biochemical responses, and nutritional quality of three cowpea varieties [BBT White, BBT Brown, and Oloyin] of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp using appropriate standard procedures. Germination percentage (BBT Brown control, CB = 107.26%; BBT White control, CA = 97.61%; Oloyin control, CC = 96.54%), radicle development at 90 hours (Oloyin control, CC = 71.87 mm; BBT Brown control, CB = 63.29 mm; BBT White control, CA = 57.92 mm), seedling growth (BBT Brown control, CB = 113.7 mm; BBT White control, CA = 72.19 mm; Oloyin control, CC = 62.75 mm), fungal infection (Oloyin + Tetracycline, C4: severity = 5.36, infection rate = 107.26%; BBT White control, CA: severity = 1.07, infection rate = 28.96%; BBT Brown control, CB: severity = 1.07, infection rate = 34.32%), and antioxidant enzyme activity (Oloyin + Amoxicillin: SOD = 2.918, CAT = 1.499, GPx = 7.344 U/g Prot; BBT Brown + Tetracycline: MDA = 1.162 mol/g Prot; BBT White + Penicillin: MDA = 0.109 mol/g Prot; BBT White + Tetracycline: proline = 22.012 mol/g dw), and nutritional composition (Oloyin + Amoxicillin: Vitamin C = 32.117 µg/mL, protein = 5.611 g/dL; Oloyin control: protein = 4.399 g/dL; BBT White + Penicillin: protein = 7.399 g/dL; total sugar ~0.404 mg/mL) were determined. The effects varied according to both variety and antibiotic treatment, with certain antibiotics (Erythromycin, Tetracycline) enhancing germination, while others (Flucloxacillin, Chloramphenicol, sodium azide) suppressed growth. These findings demonstrate the complex influence of antibiotics on cowpea growth, stress physiology, and nutritional quality, highlighting the need for careful management of their environmental and agricultural application.