Abstract

STUDIES OF MERCURY (HGCL2) STRESS ON MORPHOLOGY AND PIGMENTS OF VIGNA RADIATA L.

Rasmita Padhy*, Pallavi Priyadarshini, Subhalaxmi Bodikia, Jayashree Sahoo, Mamata Mahapatra, Goutam Sabat and Bijaya Ku Mohanty

ABSTRACT

Green gram is considered as the life line of man but it has been facing various threats from increase in use and toxic effects from the chemicals. The million dollar question is how to strike out a perfect balance between these two to minimize the chemical effect while retaining its maximum yield to meet daily demands. In the event of this stalemate, the present study takes up green gram (vigna radiata) production using safe level of chemical fertilizer mercury. Apart from being a highly essential food with nutrients required for the formation of body, the legumes of the plant act as a vital cog in the wheel of nitrogen fixation indispensable for preserving the soil fertility. In a sense, it is a blessing in disguise for the mankind in more than one ways. The laboratory experiment is carried out on the actual intensity the actual intensity of the chemical on various levels of seedlings for seven days. The percentage of germination and leaf emergence decreases gradually, and finally, 40% and 74% o decrease was recorded when the concentration is the highest at 1000mg/L. The value of % change in root and shoot length is highest in control(100%) and subsequently decreases, finally 78% and 84% decrease is recorded at 1000 mg/L The ratio of root and shoot length in control or untreated seeds is 1.63 cm and it increases at 800 mg/L is 5.8 cm and finally at 1000mg/L concentration it is 2.2 cm The decreasing level of fresh and dry weight was observed in both root and shoot of the seedling level ofHgCl2 concentration. The contents of chl-a, chl-b,total chl of the control seedlings in the shoots of 7 days old seedling were 3.057,4.599,7.645mg/g fresh weight respectively. The amount of chl-a,chl-b and total chl of the exposed seedlings of 1000mg/l has shown a fall by 0.79,0.826,1.615 respectively.

Keywords: Vigna radiata (,green gram), HgCl2 (Mercuric chloride) mercury tolerance, nitrogen fixation, ecological crisis, heavy metals.