The present study evaluated the effects of glyphosate on Pisum sativum germination as well as its effect on the physiology and biochemistry of germinated seedlings. Different physico-chemical biomarkers, viz., chlorophyll, root and shoot length, total protein and soluble sugar, along with sodium and potassium concentration, were investigated in germinated seedlings at different glyphosate concentrations. This study reports the influence of different concentrations of glyphosate on pea seeds and seedlings. Physicochemical biomarkers were significantly changed by glyphosate exposure after 15 days. The germination of seedlings under control conditions (0 mg/L) was 100% after 3 days of treatment but at 3 and 4 mg/L glyphosate, germination was reduced to 55 and 40%, respectively. Physiological parameters like root and shoot length decreased monotonically with increasing glyphosate concentration, at 14 days of observation. Average root and shoot length (n=30 in three replicates) were reduced to 14.7 and 17.6%, respectively, at 4 mg/L glyphosate. Leaf chlorophyll content also decreased, with a similar trend to root and shoot length, but the protein content initially decreased and then increased with an increase in glyphosate concentration to 3 mg/L. The study suggests that glyphosate reduces the soluble sugar content significantly, by 21.6% (v/v). But internal sodium and potassium tissue concentrations were significantly altered by glyphosate exposure with increasing concentrations of glyphosate. Biochemical and physiological analysis also supports the inhibitory effect of glyphosate on seed germination and biochemical effects on seedlings.
Presence of arsenic in ground water is a grave concern now as it is used for drinking and crop irrigation. Arsenic load of soil in the areas of arsenic contaminated ground water is gradually increasing as more than 95% of such contaminated ground water is used for crop irrigation. An experiment was conducted to study effect of arsenate and arsenite on germination and early seedling growth of the popular rice variety shatabdi. Rice seeds were exposed to water contaminated with different concentrations (Control, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 ppm) of arsenate and arsenite during germination and seedling growth. Observations were taken on germination at every 24 hour interval up to seven days. Seedling length (cm) and dry weight (g) recorded after seven days and plant height stress index (PHSI) and tolerance index (TI) was calculated. The speed of germination under arsenate at 2 ppm and 4 ppm was at par with the control treatment and under further higher concentration of arsenate and in all concentrations of arsenite it was lower than the control treatment. Length of seedlings, dry weight of seedlings was found to decrease with increase in concentration of arsenic. Such decrease was higher in arsenite than arsenate. The results indicate that arsenate beyond 4 ppm and arsenite beyond 2 ppm only affected germination. But seedling growth was very sensitive to arsenic and was affected at all concentrations of arsenate and arsenite. Arsenite appeared to be more toxic than arsenate.
Background: Agroforestry might be a better strategy for sustainable land use and crop production. Allelopathic effect of Streblus asper Lour. (Moraceae) an agroforestry tree species was documented on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed germination and seedling growth. Methods: The present study was conducted to evaluate the allelopathic potentialities of different concentrations (0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5%) of aqueous leaf extracts of S. asper on seed germination and seedling growth in laboratory based experiments. The allelopathic potentialities were studied based on seed germination, germination rate, root length, shoot length, biomass, seed vigor index etc. Result: The inhibitory effect was more pronounced with the increasing concentrations of aqueous extracts. 5% aqueous leaf extracts showed a maximum inhibitory effect on seed germination, root length, shoot length, dry weight of root and shoot as compared to control. Based on the allelopathic index, concentrations of 5% aqueous extract showed a strong inhibitory effect. Aqueous leaf extracts contain water-soluble allelochemicals which affect the seed germination and seedling growth. The inhibitory allelopathic effect can be taken as serious consideration before plantation of chickpea in an association of this tree species because of its inhibitory effect on seed germination and early stages of development.
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