Effect of elevated fluoride levels on morph-physiological parameters of wheat and barley

Abstract

Experiment to evaluate effect of elevated fluoride levels on morph-physiological parameters of wheat and barley was carried out during Rabi 2016-17. Wheat genotype HUW-234 and barley genotype EMBSM were grown hydoponically for 40 days and then exposed to 100 and 200 ppm fluoride. Observations were recorded after 40 days of imposing fluoride stress. Increased F level in root zone reduced shoot length, and root and shoot dry weight per plant. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents also decreased but both the crops showed differential patterns. On the basis of per cent reduction in dry weights of root, shoot as well as photosynthetic pigments, it is observed that as compared to barley wheat is relatively more tolerant at 100 ppm fluoride treatment, whereas, at 200 ppm fluoride level both crops are almost equally susceptible to fluoride toxicity.