STUDIES ON EFFECT OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION ON GROWTH, UPTAKE AND QUALITY PARAMETERS OFCapsicum annuum Linn.
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Date
2018-11
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UHF, NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on effect of heavy metal contamination on growth,
uptake and quality parameters of Capsicum annuum Linn.” was carried out in the Department of
Environmental Science, College of Forestry, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during 2015 and 2016. Highest concentrations of heavy metals (Pb0.651
ppm, Cd-0.678 ppm, Cu-14.06 ppm and Zn-13.01 ppm) were observed in capsicum fruits collected
from Chandigarh Sabji Mandi, followed by Solan mandi and local vegetable venders in Nauni. Higher
concentrations of these metals were observed in off season as compared to main cropping season. In
farmer’s fields, concentrations of Pb (0.583 ppm), Cd (0.587 ppm), Cu (12.91 ppm) and Zn (12.12 ppm)
were found highest around Baddi industrial area and lowest in fruits collected from Oachghat and
Sultanpur villages of Solan district. In pot experiment, the graded doses of Cd and Pb exerted significant
influence on the morphological parameters like leaf area, number of branches, number of leaves, plant
height, number of fruits, fruit yield, root dry weight and above ground biomass. Highest dose combination
i.e. Cd40Pb200 exerted maximum adverse influences. Highest dose of Cd and Pb (Cd40Pb200) resulted in
minimum leaf area (10.35 cm2), number of leaves (190.0), plant height (40.06 cm), mean number of fruits
per plant (9.0) and root dry weight (1.39 g/plant). This treatment combination also caused 49.15 per cent
reduction in fruit yield and 21.81 per cent decrease in the above ground biomass of capsicum. The
chlorophyll contents in leaves of capsicum were found lowest (1.706 mg g-1) in Cd40Pb200ascompared to
2.059 mg g-1 in control.Ascorbic acid content in fruits was increased considerably with increase in levels
of Cd and Pb which ranged between 113.19 and 120.31 mg g-1. The accumulation of Cd (17.07 mg kg-1)
and Pb (174.75 mg g-1) in soil was also recorded at highest dose combination (Cd40Pb200). The maximum
concentrations of Cd and Pb in above ground plant parts of capsicum were found maximum in stems
followed by branches and leaves. The accumulation of these metals increased with the increase in doses of
these metals used in the experiment. Highest uptake of Cd and Pb by above ground biomass of capsicum
was estimated at highest dose combination (Cd40Pb200).Mycorrhizal fungi bioremedified the toxic effect of
Cd and Pb in capsicum plants and improved various morphological and biochemical parameters.
Mycorrhizal inoculations also resulted in lower build up of Cd and Pb in soil and various plant parts of
capsicum.
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