Effect of dual stress of ultraviolet-B radiation and cadmium on nutrient uptake of wheat seedlings

Abstract

Rapid growth in industrialization has brought about presence of chemicals including heavy metals in the environment leading to pollution of natural resources such as water and soil. Uncontrolled release of pollutants such as chlorofluorocarbons has been instrumental in causing unprecedented changes like depletion of stratospheric ozone layer which is necessary for attenuation of UV-B radiation. There are a number of reports of these pollutants affecting crop yield and quality. The present investigation was carried out to see the combined effect of UV-B radiation and cadmium contamination on nutrient uptake of the growing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. The observations have been compared with plants grown in cadmium contaminated agar medium in controlled lab conditions and the ones grown with UV-B exposure alone. The combined effect of two stresses led to a decline in nutrient uptake such as calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), potassium (K⁺), iron (Fe²⁺), magnesium (Mn²⁺), and zinc (Zn²⁺) in the initial growth period of wheat plants under lab conditions. Inhibition of micronutrient uptake was found to be much more in the presence of dual stress as compared to single stress of cadmium contamination only. The findings are important as they offer new insight into the effect of dual stress, i.e., heavy metal contamination and UV-B radiation, which simulates the present day environmental scenario.

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Dr. P. K. Seth, Director, ITRC for his interest in this work. Word processing by Mr. Pramod Kumar Srivastava is also acknowledged.