EFFECT OF CADMIUM ON MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L
Phaseolus vulgaris L. is the best known species of the genus Phaseolus in the family Fabaceae. It is an important food source for humans all around the world, with increasing consumption and economic significance. The purpose of this study was to see how cadmium (Cd) effects physico-chemical parameters like germination rate, plant height, root length, pod length, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight, chlorophyll, protein content, starch content, total soluble sugars, total flavonoid content, tannins, proline content, and total phenolic content in Phaseolus vulgaris variety (HUR-137). Seedlings were exposed to different concentrations of cadmium 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg. Results indicated that cadmium significantly decrease germination rate, plant height, root length, pod length, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, and 100 seed weight. Cadmium also induced a decrease in chlorophyll content, protein content and starch content at 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg cadmium treatments; however total soluble sugars and proline content increased significantly with increasing cadmium concentration. Total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content also increases by increasing Cd concentration. But hydrolysable tannins and condensed tannins showed a significant decrease at higher cadmium concentration.
Physico-Chemical Parameters, Cadmium, Phenolic Compounds, Chlorophyll, Germination, Flavonoid