Influence of calcium silicate and ascorbic acid in ameliorating cadmium toxicity in chickpea Cicerarietinum L and mung bean Vigna radiata L R Wilczek

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity of heavy metal cadmium affecting morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv. HC-1and HC-3) and mung bean (Vigna radiate (L.) Merr. cv. MH-125 and MH-421). An experiment was carried out in a dome in sand-filled pots under normal weather conditions. Chickpea and mung bean plants were treated with Cd (CdSO4) (0.3 and 0.5 mM) alone and with ascorbic acid (AsA) (0.8 mM) and calcium silicate (CS) singly and combinedly. Cadmium application showed a deleterious effect on various growth parameters with enhanced oxidative stress in the two crops and also its accumulation increased with an increase in the concentration of the metal. Calcium silicate and ascorbic acid supplementation to the cadmium-stressed plants proved beneficial in improving the growth parameters and overall development of the plants. Supplementation of both ameliorants also decreased the metal accumulation in both crops. A combination of calcium silicate and ascorbic acid proved more effective in ameliorating the cadmium-induced toxicity in both crops. Hence, the amendment of calcium silicate and ascorbic acid can be an appropriate approach to ameliorate the toxic effects of Cd in crops grown under Cd-contaminated soils. The combination (CS+AsA) treatment effectively mitigates Cd (especially 0.3mM) induced stress by preventing its uptake, modulating photosynthesis, RLWC, vegetative to reproductive phase transition and improved yield attributes. The performance of HC-3 (chickpea) and MH-421 (mung bean) genotypes and their tolerance against Cd was improved significantly in the presence of added CS and AsA supplements. newline