title: Role of nitric oxide in cadmium-induced stress on growth, photosynthetic components and yield of Brassica napus L.
abstract: Experiments were carried out to study the effect of cadmium (Cd) and exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on growth, photosynthetic attributes, yield components and structural features of Brassica napus L. (cv. GSL 1). Cadmium in the growth medium at different levels (1, 2 and 4 Mm) retarded plant growth viz. shoot (27%) and root (51%) length as compared to control. The accumulation of total dry matter and its partitioning to different plant parts was also reduced by 31% due to Cd toxicity. Photosynthetic parameters viz., leaf area plant(-1) (51%), total Chl (27%), Chl a / Chl b ratio (22%) and Hill reaction activity of chloroplasts (42%) were greatly reduced in Cd-treated plants. Cd treatments adversely affected various yield parameters viz., number of branches (23) and siliquae plant(-1) (246), seed number siliqua(-1) (10.3), 1000-seed weight (2.30g) and seed yield plant(-1) (7.09g). Different Cd treatments also suppressed the differentiation of various tissues like vessels in the root with a maximum inhibition caused by 4mM Cd. Exogenous application of nitric oxide (NO) improved the various morpho-physiological and photosynthetic parameters in control as well as Cd-treated plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India. shalini_jhanji@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jhanji
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Setia
authors.forename: Navjyot
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Parminder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Setia
mesh_terms: D029688:Brassica napus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010788:Photosynthesis; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D002104:Cadmium; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide