Effect of Exogenous Application of Glycinebetaine on Brassica under Chromium Stress
Abstract
Various strategies may be used to induce enhanced protection against heavy metal stress. Foliar application of GB is an effective approach to impart tolerance to plants against heavy metal stress. Heavy metals including Chromium (Cr) are important source of pollution in water and soil. These negatively affect the growth and other parameters of plants. The main objective of current study was to evaluate the effect GB on rapeseed under chromium stress. For the said purpose, pot experiments were
performed using completely randomized design (CRD). Therefore, two Brassica varieties (Brassica olearaceae var.capitata and Brassica olearaceae var. botritis) were used in the experiment to study its effects and role of foliar application of GB after Cr stress induction. Seeds of each variety were thoroughly washed and sown in plastic pots containing sand. When the seedlings were 21 days old, Cr treatments were applied in the form of chromium oxide at conc. (T0=0, T1= 40, T2 =60) ppm. There were 5 replicates for each treatment of both the varieties. After 15 days of treatment, data regarding shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll contents and GB contents were recorded. After 40 days of Cr treatment plants were treated with foliar application of GB. Foliar application of GB has positive effect on morphological and biochemical parameters and reduced the detrimental effect of chromium metal. So, GB is useful osmoprotectant to provide tolerance to plants under heavy metal stress.