Journal of Environmental Biology

Study on individual and interactive effects of supplemental UV-B radiation and heavy metals on Spinacea oleracea

????????? Shweta Mishra¹*, Tapan Kumar Nailwal¹ and Shashi Bhusan Agrawal²

???????????? ¹Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Nainital-263 136, India

???????? ²Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: shwetanailwal@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

19 March 2013

Revised received:

10 July 2013

Accepted:

14 July 2013

Abstract

The effects of supplemental ultraviolet-B (sUV-B) irradiation and heavy metals (Cd and Ni) treatment alone and in combination were evaluated on the growth, biomass and yield of spinach plants. All the stresses caused reduction in biomass yield vis-a-vis alteration in its distribution pattern with more retention in below ground parts leading to higher root shoot ratio. Absolute growth rate (AGR) decreased in all treated plants due to reduction in their height at successive growth stages. Decrease in leaf area and number of leaves due to various stresses was responsible for decline in net assimilation rate (NAR), an index of photosynthetic assimilatory capacity of the plant. Supplemental UV-B increased the bioaccumulation of Cd and Ni in the root and shoot of exposed plants as compared to the control ones. The present study suggested that soil contaminated with Cd or Ni had a more negative impact on yield with higher retention of heavy metals in spinach growing under natural field conditions and exposed with elevated UV-B.?

 Key words

Bioaccumulation, Biomass, Heavy metals, Spinacea oleracea, UV-B radiation

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