Iron Toxicity and Its Effect on the Growth an...

Iron Toxicity and Its Effect on the Growth and Yield of Vigna Unguiculata L. Var. Kabir-06)

Author Name : Khushboo Rani, Kanchan Awasthi, Neeraj Jain, Madhu Prakash Srivastav

ABSTRACT Iron is the very essential micronutrient for plant growth and development. Micronutrients are essential elements that are needed in small amounts as compared to macronutrients. Iron plays a significant role in chlorophyll synthesis and is an essential element for photosynthesis when it is present in the proper amounts. If the amount of iron increases in plants including cowpeas, it causes iron toxicity. In this study, the effect of iron toxicity on the growth and yield of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) was analyzed. To analyze the effect of iron toxicity on Vigna unguiculata, plants were grown in pots for 62 days at atmospheric temperature. Six pots were taken for this dissertation and five seeds are sown in each pot. In one pot all plants were continued as the control. These plants grow in atmospheric conditions. In the other five pots, iron toxicity was given to the plant in different concentrations of iron (2ppm, 10ppm, 20ppm, 40ppm, and, 100ppm). These concentrations of iron metal supplied to the plant were given after 35 days of germination of the plant. After giving iron metal supply to the cowpea plant, the leaves of the cowpea plant show symptoms of discoloration due to excess chlorophyll production. Most of the flowers of these plants were bronzing and falling. As the concentration of iron supply increases, root and fruit development is reduced. Due to iron toxicity, the overall growth of the plant was retarded with increased concentration of iron.