Abstract
By using two Brassica juncea, L. (Indian mustard) genotypes (Varuna and DHR-9504) agreenhouse experiment was carried out to study the effect of cadmium (Cd) on growth, yield and concentration of cadmium (Cd) in different plant parts at the Agricultural Research Station, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh, India during 2002-2003. Plants were grown under controlled climatic conditions and subjected to increasing Cd supply in the form of CdCl2 @ 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg Cd kg-1 soil. Cdphytotoxicity was shown by growth retardation of Varuna and DHR-9504. Varuna showed greater sensitivity to Cd toxicity than DHR-9504. Increasing Cd supply markedly reduced the seed, stem and root dry weight of both genotypes (Varuna and DHR-9504), and these decreases were more marked in Varuna.Due to increased level of Cd application, the Cd concentration increased significantly in various plant parts in both the Brassica genotypes tested. Increase in Cd concentration of about 5 times in seeds, 7 times in stems and 9 times in roots was noted with an application of 20 mg Cd kg-1 soil more than the control. Cd was accumulated in the roots in much higher amounts than in the stem and seeds, especially in the case of DHR-9504, indicating that there is limited transport of Cd from the root system to the above ground plant parts in DHR-9504 genotype due to the presence of strong Cd-binding proteins in the roots. GenotypeDHR-9504 had significantly less uptake of Cd than genotype Varuna. More data are needed to ascertain the findings of this study.
Highlights
Brassica juncea L. (Indian mustard) is an important oilseed crop of India and is quite sensitive to cadmium
Cd phytotoxicity was shown by growth retardation of Varuna and DHR9504
Seed yield of Brassica genotypes (Varuna and DHR-9504) decreased to a greater extent than that of other plant parts, there was a significant reduction in yield of about 45% and 25% for seed at 100 mg Cd kg-1 soil compared with the control in genotypes Varuna and DHR-9504 respectively (Figure 2)
Summary
Brassica juncea L. (Indian mustard) is an important oilseed crop of India and is quite sensitive to cadmium. (Indian mustard) is an important oilseed crop of India and is quite sensitive to cadmium. This species originates from the hybridization of Brassica nigra and Brassica campestris which probably happened in South Western Asia and India where the natural distribution of the two species overlaps (Sauer, 1993). Brassica juncea L. has been identified as a high biomass-producing crop with the capacity to take up and accumulate heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb (Kumar et al, 1995). Deshveer and Singh (2003) stated that the yield level of Indian mustard crop is of low magnitude, despite the use of N and P fertilizers. Oilseed crops are generally grown in submarginal land under rainfed as well as irrigated conditions. Deshveer and Singh (2003) stated that the yield level of Indian mustard crop is of low magnitude, despite the use of N and P fertilizers. Foy et al (1978) and Sheoran et al (1991) found that indiscriminate usage of phosphatic fertilizers in agricultural fields leads to build up cadmium level in the soil which affects plant growth and economic yield
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