Effect of the stress induced by mercury and cadmium on the biochemical parameters of the seedlings of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

Abstract

The effect of Mercuric chloride and Cadmium chloride on the biochemical parameters of the seedlings of Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp) were studied. The seeds were germinated in Petri plates in different concentration (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 mg-1) of mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride for 10 days in laboratory conditions. The biochemical parameters like photosynthetic pigments, sugar, protein, amino acid, DNA and RNA contents of 10 days old seedling were analysed. There was a gradual decrease in photosynthetic pigments and biochemical constituents of the seedlings with the increase of metal concentrations. A significant negative correlation was found between the metal concentrations and the biochemical constituents.