Differential toxicity of cadmium to mustard (Brassica juncia L.) genotypes under higher metal levels

Cadmium application inhibited various growth and biochemical parameters in seedlings of five cultivars of Brassica juncia L. with different magnitude at lower Cd supply, however, at higher metal applications the variation in Cd toxicity ranged with minor differences. The seedling vigour index (SVI) was inhibited more severely in Gangotri (62.25% over control) and least in Pusa Jai Kisan (8.95%) at 1.0 mM CdCl2. The SVI of all five mustard cultivars, however, severely inhibited (84.29-91.80%) at 5.0 mM Cd. The root and shoot elongation in 7 days old seedlings were inhibited by 32.39-40.38 and 11.83-56.40% respectively at 1.0 mM CdCl2, whereas the varietal differences in root and shoot elongation were 76.71-82.47 and 71.57-78.91 respectively at 5.0 mM CdCl2. The genotypic differences at lower Cd level were more pronounced in shoot elongation than that in the root elongation. The dry weight and moisture content of the seedlings, however, does not show much varietal differences even at lower Cd level, though the Cd toxicity increased at higher level of Cd application. The metal tolerance index (MTI) and % phytotoxicity of 3 days old seedlings ranged between 43.30-98.37 and 1.63-56.70% respectively at 1.0 mM CdCl2 for different mustard genotypes, whereas at 5.0 mM CdCl2 these factors ranged between 12.26-20.92 and 80.08-87.74% respectively. The varietal differences of MTI and % phytotoxicity was, however, less pronounced at all the metal levels when the seedling attained an age of 7 days. Asimilar trend of genotypic variation was noticed in Cd accumulation in the seedlings at lower and higher levels of Cd supply to the seedlings.Amongst some biochemical parameters e.g. photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates and proteins in the leaves, the photosynthetic pigments i.e. chlorophylls and carotenoids were decreased more drastically. The carbohydrate content of leaves, however, was the least affected component. Our data indicate that the differential toxicity of cadmium to Indian mustard genotypes was dependent on the level of contamination and growth phases.