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PHYTOEXTRACTION OF LEAD (Pb) BY EDTA APPLICATION THROUGH SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) CULTIVATION: SEEDLING GROWTH STUDIES

NAZILA AZHAR¹, M. YASIN ASHRAF², M. HUSSAIN¹ AND F. HUSSAIN²

Abstract: A series of lab experiments were conducted to assess the toxicity of lead (Pb) and its phyto- extraction through sunflower cultivation. Seedling growth as shoot length, root length and dry matter stress tolerance indices were reduced with increasing concentration of lead (Pb) or EDTA. Very severe effect of Pb and EDTA was noted in case of root length stress tolerance index however, Pb affected root length stress tolerance index more adversely than that of EDTA. The toxicity of Pb for sunflower plants was reduced when applied in combination with EDTA at 1.0-1.0 and 2-1.5 Pb-EDTA levels. Lead @ 3.5 mM and EDTA @ 3 mM in the growth medium showed 50% reduction in shoot length when applied separately.  EDTA also reduced shoot, root length and dry matter stress tolerance indices and the effect was more pronounced at higher levels of EDTA.  Root length and dry matter stress tolerance index increased when Pb was applied in combination of EDTA. The results showed that addition of EDTA was effective in enhancing the uptake of Pb in sunflower plants.

 ¹ Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
² Salinity and Environmental Management Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Corresponding Author: Nazila Azhar; gudya_1@hotmail.com