Journal of Environmental Biology

Role of nitric oxide in cadmium-induced stress on growth,

photosynthetic components and yield of Brassica napus L.

Author Details

Shalini Jhanji

(Corresponding author)

Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India???

e-mail: shalini_jhanji@yahoo.com?? ???????????

R. C. Setia

Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India

Navjyot Kaur

Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India

Parminder Kaur?

Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India

Neelam Setia?

Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India

Publication Data

Paper received:

02 May 2011

Revised received:

20? August 2011

Accepted:

18 October 2011

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to study the effect of cadmium (Cd) and exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on growth, photosynthetic attributes, yield components and structural features of Brassica napus L. (cv. GSL 1). Cadmium in the growth medium at different levels (1, 2 and 4 Mm) retarded plant growth viz. shoot (27%) and root (51%) length as compared to control. The accumulation of total dry matter and its partitioning to different plant parts was also reduced by 31% due to Cd toxicity. Photosynthetic parameters viz., leaf area plant-1 (51%), total Chl (27%), Chl a / Chl b ratio (22%) and Hill reaction activity of chloroplasts (42%) were greatly reduced in Cd-treated plants. Cd treatments adversely affected various yield parameters viz., number of branches (23) and siliquae plant -1 (246), seed number siliqua -1 (10.3), 1000-seed weight (2.30g) and seed yield plant-1 (7.09g).? Different Cd treatments also suppressed the differentiation of various tissues like vessels in the root with a maximum inhibition caused by 4mM Cd. Exogenous application of nitric oxide (NO) improved the various morpho-physiological and photosynthetic parameters in control as well as Cd- treated plants. ??

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Key words

Cadmium, Sodium nitroprusside, Nitric oxide, Brassica napus, Growth

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