Effect of heavy metals treatments on fenugreek plant
Rajan Bhandari, Baljinder Singh
Abstract
Metals contamination in soil and water is one of the major problems worldwide. The present study addresses the effect of seven important metals (chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), aluminium (Al)), in an oldest known medicinal plant Trigonella foenum-graecum L. commonly called Fenugreek. The effect of different concentrations (3, 6, 9 mg/L) of metals were observed in plants in terms of the number of root nodulation formation, leghaemoglobin (Lb) content of nodules, seed germination, and metals content in harvested seeds. The maximum 80% reduction in the number of root nodules formation from vegetative to the flowering stage was reported at 9 mg/L Cd and Pb treatment. The Lb content was in the range of 0.4 – 1.8 mg/g fresh nodule, with seven different metals treatments. The maximum inhibition in the production of Lb content in root nodules was observed at 9 mg/L of As treatment. The seed germination was not significantly affected by metals contamination in soil. Traces of only two metals Cd and Ni were found in the harvested seeds of fenugreek grown in seven different metals treated soils.