Abstract

TOXICITY STUDY OF CADMIUM ON ABELMOSCHEUS ESCULENTUS

*Praveen Goswami, Devika Bhargava, Kanchan Gupta and Utkarsh Kaushik

ABSTRACT

Cadmium is extremely toxic metal which has increased from its natural limit to a toxic level due to rapid industrialization. Agricultural yield is decreasing due to readily accumulation of heavy metals. The present investigation involves assessment of effect of cadmium (Cd) on vegetative and reproductive phases of Abelmuschus esculentus. The plants were treated with 0.1 mM and 0.5 mM of Cd. Plants received distilled water serve as control. Results indicate that almost all selected growth parameters were sensitive to 0.5 mM concentration of Cd. Plant biomass decreased significantly. Root length, shoot length, leaf area and leaf number were negatively related with concentration of cadmium. Chlorophyll and total protein content showed significant decline compared to control.

Keywords: Cadmium, Chlorophyll, Abelmoschus esculentus, shoot length, plant biomass.