PROBING THE PHYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ARSENIC ON GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.

Abstract

Being ubiquitous in nature arsenic (As) plays significant role as environmental pollutant and phytotoxic element which adversely affects growth and development of plants. In the present study, the phytotoxic effects of As on the growth of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was investigated with optimized 5 ppm As treatment and found reduction in number of leaves, plant height, root length, number of lateral roots and fresh and dry mass of tomato plants. Results indicate that reduction in various growth parameters could possibly due to high As accumulation in plant tissues as they may have to utilise their energy to minimize the effects of high As concentration. Adverse effects of As treatment on the normal physiological functions of the plants was assessed in terms of photosynthetic activities. Results clearly show that arsenic exposure severely affected the growth and photosynthetic machinery of plants resulting into structural and functional damage leading to death of tomato plants.