title: Influence of Some Heavy Metals on Growth, Alkaloid Content and Composition in Catharanthus roseus L.
abstract: Shoot biomass production, alkaloid content and composition as influence by cadmium, manganese, nickel and lead at uniform dose of 5 mM were investigated in Catharanthus roseus plants grown in sand culture. Treatment with Mn, Ni, and Pb significantly enhanced total root alkaloid accumulation. Cd and Ni treatment resulted in two-fold where as Pb treatment resulted in three fold increase in serpentine content of roots. The non-significant affect on biomass suggests that plants can withstand metal stress at the level tested with positive affect on root alkaloid content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Kukrail Picnic Spot Road, Lucknow-226 015, India.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Srivastava