| Author(s) | Muna M. Al-Rumaih*, S.S. Rushdy* and A.S. Warsy** |
| Affiliation | *Department of Botany and Microbiology, **Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia |
| Title | Effect of Cadmium Stress in the Presence and Absence of Gibberellic Acid on Mineral Nutrition of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) During Ontogenesis |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Agricultural Sciences. Volume 15, No 2. (2003/1423) |
| Abstract | Abstract. The effect of cadmium (Cd) stress on mineral nutrition of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L., plants in the presence or absence of gibberellic acid (GA3) was studied using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Application of different concentrations (0, 20, 40, 80, 160 ppm) of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) resulted in an increased accumulation of Cd in shoots and roots, and a large proportion of the absorbed Cd was retained in roots. Cadmium chloride treatment decreased the Ca, K, Fe and Mn contents of Vigna unguiculata shoots and roots progressively in a dose dependent manner. However, the level of Mg increased in the roots and decreased in the shoots. Changes in Cd and mineral nutrient levels were related to the plant growth stage, being maximum when Cd was applied at the early vegetative stage, and the intensity of these changes was less significant when the heavy metal was applied at a later stage. When the Cd-treated plants were sprayed with GA3, the hormone was partially effective in decreasing the Cd concentration of both roots and shoots. Furthermore, GA3 treatment increased the mineral nutrient levels of Vigna unguiculata roots and shoots. This effect was most significant at 20 and 40 ppm CdCl2 concentrations and during the intermediate growth stage followed by the early stage, and roots were less affected than shoots. Keywords: Cadmium, mineral nutrient, toxicity, gibberellic acid, Vigna unguiculata. |
