EFFECT OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF CU AND CU+ZN AMENDMENT IN SOIL ON GROWTH, REPRODUCTIVE YIELDS AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES OF MUSTARD (BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS L.) PLANTS

Mustard (Brassica campestris L.) plants grown on alluvial soils in soil-pot culture. Cu+Zn (25 mg Cu+ 5mg Zn kg-1) in soil promoted growth, reproductive yield and biochemical responses of wheat and mustard. In Mustard plants common visible symptoms of Cu-toxicity such as stunted plant growth, intervenal chlorosis in younger leaves and reduced size of leaf lamina at excess supply of Cu (25 mg kg-1) in soil were observed. In mustard (Brassica campestris), tissue concentration of Cu increased with increase in Cu concentration in soil. The growth (shoot length, and dry matter yield) of plants increased by low Cu supply in soil was observed up to 2 mg kg-1 supply level. Excess Cu concentrations (25 mg kg-1), inhibited protein content by 24 and total chlorophyll content by 32%. But activity of catalase and proline content increased with increase in Cu concentration up to 25 mg kg-1 supply in soil. Maximum tissue concentration of root (60 μg g-1 dry weight) and shoot (54 μg g-1 dry weight) was observed in mustard. Cu supply in soil, showed inhibitory effects on growth and biochemical responses of mustard.