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CHANGES IN SOME BIOPHYSICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF MUNGBEAN [VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK] GROWN ON CHROMIUM-CONTAMINATED SOILS TREATED WITH SOLID TEA WASTAGE

Rafia Azmat^* and Hira akhter

Abstract: The success of solid tea wastage treatment technology in remediating chromium (111) contamination in the soil has been demonstrated on growth of Vigna radiata. The present research was designed to study the effect of chromium (Cr³⁺) on plant growth, potassium (K), phosphorus (P), protease activity and proline profile of Vigna radiata as a bioindicator in the presence and absence of the solid tea surface as a biosorbent to control the mobility of Cr³⁺ in the soil. Results showed toxic effects of Cr³⁺ on plant growth and development, which include high protease activity with prominent proline and decreased potassium and phosphorus contents at elevated concentration of metal. Proline content is the only amino acid that accumulates to a greater extent in the leaves of plants under stress. An increase in proline contents in leaves, stem and root with high concentration of Cr³⁺ gets reduced in a solid tea wastage amended plants. Metabolic alteration by Cr³⁺exposure and their control by solid tea wastage  already described in the first report, showed direct effect on enzymes or other metabolites or by its ability to generate reactive oxygen species which may cause oxidative stress.  It is suggested that the plant can grow under chromium stress if some suitable adsorbent (like tea wastage) is mixed with the soil which can protect the plants from the phyto-toxicity of Cr³⁺ by altering various metabolic processes.

Department of Chemistry, Jinnah University for Women 5C Nazimabad, 74600, Karachi-74600, Pakistan