PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES OF PLANTS UNDER FLUORIDE STRESS: AN OVERVIEW

Fluoride (F) present naturally in soil, water, and atmosphere shows significant interaction with plants and adversely affects their various physiobiochemical parameters, sometimes even without showing any visible symptoms of injury. F affects plant growth and development by interfering with several metabolic pathways associated with photosynthesis, respiration, protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and nucleotide synthesis. The present review critically discusses the diverse toxic effects on agricultural crops and trees of exposure to F as it is well known that excess F intake through drinking water over a period causes serious irreversible ill effects in the form of osteo-dental fluorosis.