Abstract
Effect of lead on germination, growth, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll contents in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) cv. Priya was studied in a hydroponic system using Shive and Robbins Medium incorporating 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 20, 30 and 40 ppm lead. Due to lead toxicity, reduction in seed germination from 47 to 90%, shoot growth from 29 to 52%, root growth from 13 to 59%, leaf area from 22 to 69% and chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll contents from 16 to 57% were recorded. Morphologically, all the treatments above 14 ppm showed stunted growth, chlorosis and reduction in leaf area. It is suggested that chlorophyll content can be adopted as a very useful in vivo indicator of heavy metal toxicity for calculating the upper critical tissue concentrations.
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