Prolonged Use of Insecticide Dimethoate Inhibits Growth and Photosynthetic Activity of Wheat Seedlings: A Study by Laser-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

Abstract

This paper is an extension of the work published in Journal of Fluorescence (2011) 21: 785-791. In the previous work, we studied the effect of dimethoate (50, 100 and 200ppm) on growth and photosynthetic activity of wheat seedlings after 10days of dimethoate treatment. In the present study, new measurement conditions (dimethoate concentration: 25ppm, treatment period: 20days and 30days) were used in addition to those used in the past work. Various plant growth parameters, photosynthetic pigment content, laser-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (LICF) spectra and fluorescence induction kinetics (FIK) curves were recorded after 10, 20 and 30days of dimethoate treatments. LICF spectra were recorded in the region of 650-780nm using violet diode laser (405nm). FIK curves were recorded at 685nm using red diode laser (635nm). Fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) of two fluorescence peaks around 685 and 730nm, and variable chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio (Rfd) were determined from LICF spectra and FIK curves respectively. Curve-fitted parameters of LICF spectra were used for determination of FIR (F685/F730). The effect of treatment of the insecticide dimethoate on growth and photosynthetic activity of wheat seedlings was examined by using these parametersas well as the past work. In 10-days treatment, 25 and 50ppm dimethoate showed stimulatory effect with better stimulation being observed at 25ppm. All studied concentrations higher than 50ppm exhibited inhibitory effect on wheat seedlings. In case of dimethoate treatment studied for longer durations (more than 10days), all concentrations showed inhibitory effect. Lower doses which showed some positive response for short time duration become toxic with the extension of treatment periods. Thus, this study clearly confirms the toxic effect of dimethoate on wheat plants.