ACTIVITY OF ENZYMES OF NITROGEN METABOLISM AND CADMIUM ACCUMULATION IN MOONG PLANTS UNDER CADMIUM STRESS

The present experiment was carried out to elucidate the changes in photosynthetic attributes, cadmium (Cd) accumulation, and the activity of enzymes of nitrogen metabolism in moong plants under Cd (0, 25, 50 mg kg(-1) of soil) stress. Cd was given in the form of CdCl2. The root and shoot dry mass and various photosynthetic attributes decreased with the increasing concentration of soil-applied Cd at 30 days after sowing (DAS). Moreover, a significant reduction in the activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase in both leaves and roots was also noted. However, the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase increased in both leaves and roots under Cd stress. Moreover, the accumulation of Cd in the roots and leaves increased with the increase in the concentration of Cd in the soil. Out of the various concentrations of Cd applied through soil, 50 mg kg(-1) was found to be most toxic which had maximum effect in all the parameters studied at 30 DAS.