The Effect of Iron Toxicity on Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

The objectives of this work was to determine the impact of toxic concentration of iron on green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek var. SML 668) seedlings. For this seeds were sown in petridishes with varying concentration of iron (100, 200, 300, 500 M Fe) in the form of Fe EDTA in seed germinator. Seed germination, shoot and root length and tolerance index was found to be decreased and percentage phytotoxicity and percentage difference from control was increased in seeds with increase in concentration of iron in germinating solution. Iron toxicity cause increase in tissue iron concentration and decrease in chlorophyll content at 3 and 6 days of shoot and root. High concentration of lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide and proline in shoot and root were detected in toxic (200, 300, 500 M Fe) seedlings as compared to control (100 M Fe). The results indicate that under iron stress condition plants suffer increased oxidative damage.