Abstract
A pot experiment was conducted in University of Agriculture Faisalabad to assess the effect of Cu and Zn uptake on morphological, physiological, biochemical and yield attributes of Helianthus annuus L.(Sunflower). Two hybrids FH-612 and FH-621 were used during this study. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and three replicates. After 20 days of germination the plants were subjected to different levels of ZnCl2, CuSO4 and with their combination. Three harvests were taken at an interval of seven days each to study the growth rate, morphological, physiological and biochemical attributes. At the maturity of crops final harvest was taken and yield attributes were recorded. Data of various attributes were statistically analyzed. It was observed that both the metals caused negative effect on growth rate as well as the other parameters studied. The effect was more pronounced in the metal combination treatment. Ultimately the yield was significantly reduced due to the effect of metals in both hybrids. However hybrid FH-612 revealed slight tolerance towards Cu and Zn toxicity as compared to its counterpart. FH- 621. Thus it was concluded that Cu and Zn affect the morphological, physiological and yield attributes of sunflower when applied in higher concentration.
Highlights
The heavy metals which are enumerated as significant pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency has given a problem due to increasing urbanization and industrialization (Rai, 2007)
The objective of this research was to check the effect of heavy metals i.e. Zinc and Copper on hybrids of Helianthus annuus L. i.e. FH-612 and FH-621 regarding physiological, morphological, biochemical and yield responses
An experiment was conducted under natural environmental conditions in Old Botanical Garden, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during the year 2014-2015 to make a comparison between two hybrids of sunflower i.e. FH-612 and FH-621 to the heavy metals i.e. Copper and Zinc
Summary
The heavy metals which are enumerated as significant pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency has given a problem due to increasing urbanization and industrialization (Rai, 2007). Heavy metals cannot be destroyed or despoiled They bio-accumulate over a period and enter the body structure through water, air and food to a small level (Lenntech, 2004). Metals affect both metabolism and development of plants at high concentration. Heavy metals affect different physiological attributes and produce nutritional abnormalities, protein and chlorophyll degradation in many flora (Ahmad et al, 2011). These phytotoxic effects of heavy metals depend on pH of soil plant species, metal absorption capacity and other factors in soil (Kumar et al, 2004). Phyto-extraction of polluted soils is well thought-out to be environmentally friendly and efficient (Lone et al, 2010)
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