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Effect of lead on nitrate reductase activity and alleviation of lead toxicity by inorganic salts and 6-benzylaminopurine

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

A concentration dependent decrease in root nitrate reductase (E.C.1.6.6.1) activity (NRA) by 0.1 to 2.0 mM lead acetate was noticed in three cultivars of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek (K851, MH8320 and ML337). Leaf NRA, on the other hand, increased significantly with increasing lead concentration which was more pronounced in cvs. MH8320 and ML337 than in cv. K851. Total nitrogen content of root and shoot was generally increased due to supply of the lead acetate, whereas the total nitrogen content of the colyledons was hardly affected in cvs. MH8320 and ML337 and decreased in cv. K851 during the early growth phase. The inhibition of root NRA could be alleviated by addition of inorganic salts (K2HPO4 and KNO3, but not CaCl2) or 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in the incubation medium. Lead mediated inhibition of root NRA was similar in light and dark grown seedlings, but lead induced increase in leaf NRA was more pronounced in the light than in the dark.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biosciences, M. D. University, Rohtak -, 124 001, India

    R.P. Singh, S. Dabas, A. Choudhary & R. Maheshwari

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  1. R.P. Singh
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  2. S. Dabas
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  3. A. Choudhary
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  4. R. Maheshwari
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Correspondence to R.P. Singh.

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Singh, R., Dabas, S., Choudhary, A. et al. Effect of lead on nitrate reductase activity and alleviation of lead toxicity by inorganic salts and 6-benzylaminopurine. Biologia Plantarum 40, 399–404 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001155431519

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