Ascorbic Acid and Calcium Silicate Improve Morpho-physiological Characteristics of Cadmium Stressed Mung Bean Crop

Gagandeep Kaur and Kamal Jit Singh*

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry laboratory, Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail:kamal@pu.ac.in

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.11.1.14

Abstract:

A rise in heavy metal contamination especially in the rhizosphere affecting the growth and yield of crops is a major concern. We aimed to study the influence of using calcium silicate (CS) and ascorbic acid (AsA) supplements on lowering the impact of cadmium-induced toxicityin mung bean. Both the supplements alone or in combination improved growth characteristics of cadmium (Cd) stressed mung bean plantslike root-shoot length and fresh-dry weight. Leaf pigments like chlorophyll and carotenoids werealso restored. A significant improvement in the relative leaf water content (RLWC) and low electrolyte leakage (EL) at the membrane was recorded. Results were more promising when combinations of CS and AsA treatments were used against the lower concentration of cadmium. Hence, both CS and AsA interact synergistically to alleviate Cd induced metal toxicity in mung bean plants.

Keywords:

Abiotic stress; antioxidants; legumes; water deficit

Download this article as: 

[ HTML Full Text]