Abstract:
Plants undergo various abiotic tresses because there are certain environmental conditions which cannot be tolerated by plants and have an adverse effect on the development and growth of plants. These environmental conditions cause morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants. Heavy metals pose contamination in the nature because of their high toxicity, persistence and a smooth transmission through the food chain. Seeds of maize (Zea Mays L.) variety WS-3570 were obtained from recognizedinstitute of Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. Seeds soaked in distilled water which were sown in soil having 0.5 mg/kg HgCl2 with Potassium nitrate as growth regulator, seeds soaked in distilled water which were sown in soil having 1mg/kg HgCl2 with potassium nitrate as a growth regulator and the treatments were control (seeds soaked in distilled water) and applied Potassium nitrate as a growth regulator only.The results of this research suggested that the poisoning of Hg significantly decreases the quantities of chlorophyll and carotenoids contents.Hg poisoning significantly increased the H2O2 content in the heavy metal mercury treated plants as compared to non-treated plants in Zea mays L. Under the Hg toxicity the both MDA and H2O2 increased as compared to the non-polluted soil. KNO3 spray enhanced the activities of the POD, CAT, APX and SOD in zea mays L. Application of potassium nitrate enhanced phenolics, flavonoids, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration and stomatal conductance in Zea mays. It is proposed that Hg stress alleviation is credited to enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduction in oxidative stress markers.
Page(s):
234-234
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Abstract Book on Global Science Technology and Management Conference, Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023
Keywords:
Heavy metals
,
antioxidant
,
Mercury
,
Stress markers