Influence of essential heavy metals on the physiological and biochemical mechanisms in relation to vegetative growth and flower yield of tuberose Polianthes tuberosa L cv Prajwal

Abstract

The present investigation entitled Influence of essential heavy metals on the physiological and biochemical mechanisms in relation to vegetative growth and flower yield of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Prajwal was carried out during the period from Rabi-2018 to Kharif-2020 at College of Horticulture, Dr. Y. S. R. Horticultural University, Anantharajupeta, Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial concept and replicated thrice. The main objective of the investigation was to find out the influence of graded levels of essential heavy metals (Mn, Cu, Zn) on the vegetative growth, physiological and biochemical parameters in relation to flower yield and phytoremediation capability of tuberose cv. Prajwal . The data arrived at were statistically analyzed and the results were concluded. newlineAll the vegetative, physiological, biochemical and floral parameters were found significantly influenced by soil application of graded levels of essential heavy metals during both the years of study as well as in the pooled data analysis. Among the graded levels of essential heavy metal concentrations, soil application of ZnSO4 at 400 mg kg-1 soil positively influenced the vegetative growth, physiological and biochemical parameters and thus increased the flower yield in tuberose cv. Prajwal during both the years of study as well as in the pooled data analysis. Growth and development of tuberose cv. Prajwal observed during the 1st year of study i.e., 2018-19 was found significantly lower in comparison to the 2nd year of study i.e., 2019-20 with all the graded levels of essential heavy metal concentrations including soil application of ZnSO4 at 400 mg kg-1 soil. The reason might be attributed to the toxic levels of higher concentrations of essential heavy metals which might in turn have influenced a newlinesignificant reduction in the growth and development during the 1st year of study in tuberose cv. Prajwal . However, the ill effects might have been reduced