Influence of Cadmium on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics and Nutrient Uptake in Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Remesh K. N

Abstract: Cadmium is extremely hazardous to life and has been involved in historic poisoning episodes of human, animal and plant populations. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L. ) Walp. ) is a staple food crop in terms of its high protein value. The present investigation in realistic field conditions is to study the effect of five different concentration of Cadmium (100M, 250M, 500M, 750M and 1mM) on bioaccumulation, carbohydrate, protein, leaf area and stomatal characteristics of Vigna unguiculata (L. ) Walp). Cd markedly hindered the uptake and transport of nutrients like Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn. Accumulation of Cd, was more in pod in lower concentration but it is more in root in higher of concentration Cd. Cadmium adversely affected total carbohydrate and the leaf area. However total content of protein in leaves was positively affected in all treatments, but it was not consistent in different treatments. It has been noticed that, number of stomata, stomatal index, length and width of stomata were not much influenced by Cd.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation, stomatal index, carbohydrate, Protein, leaf area