Effect of Cadmium on Photosynthetic Responses and Biochemical Contents of Maize Plants
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V. Arivazhagan, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
[2]
P. S. Sharavanan, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
The effect of increasing concentrations (10, 30 and 50mg kg-1) of soil cadmium on growth and biochemical contents in maize (Zea maysL.) plants were analysed on two different sampling (viz., 30th and 45th) days. Photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were measured on 45th sampling days only. Control plants were maintained separately. The inner surface of pots was lined with a polythene sheet. Each pot contained 3kg of air dried soil. Six seeds were sown in each pot. All pots were watered to field capacity daily. Plants were thinned to a maximum of three per pots, after a week of germination. Cadmium at all levels (10,30 and 50mg kg-1) tested, decreased the growth parameters such as root and shoot length, number of leaf, total leaf area, photosynthetic responses such as photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance and biochemical constituents such as total chlorophyll, carotenoid and total sugar contents of maize plants compared to untreated plants.
Cadmium, Maize, Growth, Photosynthesis and Biochemical Changes
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