Influence of uranium on the growth of wheat.

The influence of various (1, 5, 25, 125 and 625 mu g g(-1)) concentrations of uranium added to soil was studied on different growth parameters of wheat. Though uranium has been claimed to be a probable micronutrient for higher plants by some workers, in the present studies even the lowest (1 mu g g(-1)) uranium addition resulted in a decrease in different growth parameters during all the stages of growth. Inhibition in root elongation and root biomass was more pronounced than shoot biomass. The percent reduction in dry weight was more pronounced than fresh weight indicating a significant dehydration. Spike number, seed number and seed weight also showed a decrease at all the uranium additions so much so;that no spike could develop at 625 mu g g(-1) applied uranium. The reasons behind these growth inhibitions have been discussed.