Effects of heavy metals on Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn

Abstract

Heavy metal (Abiotic Factor) pollution is one of the most troublesomeenvironmental problems faced by mankind nowadays. Lead and Nickel in particular,pose serious problems due to its widespread industrial and agricultural use. Plants ingeneral are very sensitive to Pb and Ni toxicity, displaying metabolic disturbances andgrowth inhibition. Eleusine coracana (L) Gaertn (var. PR202) which mainly grows in drycondition faces the toxicity of Pb and Ni which may have negative effect on its yield.Some inorganic nutrients can overcome the toxicity of heavy metals and addition of theseinorganic nutrients in media can increase the resistance (tolerance level) of plant against heavy metal toxicity. Embryogenic sectors of seed callus from control (MS + 2 mg/l 2,4-D+ 0.5 mg/l Kn) were sub cultured on regeneration medium (MS + 1mg/l NAA)supplemented with of toxic level of heavy metals and varied concentrations of inorganicnutrients (MgSO4 and ZnSO4) to minimize the toxicity of heavy metals. Callus induction obtained only in the medium containing 100 μM concentrations of Pb and Ni but therewas better growth obtained in Ni containing medium than Pb. These results show that Pband Ni above 100 μM concentration were toxic for callus induction in Eleusine coracanabut Pb was more toxic than Ni and same results was observed during plantregeneration.It was concluded that ZnSO4 at the four times of MS level best to minimizethe toxicity of Nickel and MgSO4 at three times of MS level best to minimize the toxicityof Lead.