Physiological response of tuberose cv. ‘PRAJWAL’ to some essential heavy metals

Abstract

Three essential heavy metal containing chemicals viz., MnSO4, CuSO4 and ZnSO4 were used in the present investigation at different graded levels, with the main objective to study their influence on different physiological parameters of tuberose cv. ‘Prajwal’. The experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Dr. Y.S. R. Horticultural University, Anantharajupeta with a Completely Randomized Design with factorial concept, using three replications and carried out in polybag culture method. Data recorded on different physiological parameters of tuberose were analyzed statistically using OPSTAT software and least significant difference was used to differentiate the treatments. Statistical analysis of results indicated that application of ZnSO4 @ 400 mg kg-1 soil recorded significant increase in many of the physiological parameters viz., rate of photosynthesis (12.73, 25.36 and 19.04 µ mol CO2 m-1 s-1), stomatal conductance (0.26, 0.73 and 0.49 m mol m-2 s-1), internal cellular CO2 content (371.00, 379.51 and 375.25 µ mol m-2 s-1), relative water content (80.66, 89.83 and 85.24%) respectively during 2018-19, 2019-20 and the pooled data mean, whereas rate of transpiration (3.36 m mol m-2 s-1) was found significant during 2018-19. Among all the treatments, application of ZnSO4 @ 400 mg kg-1 soil recorded significantly the lowest leaf temperature (29.30 and 30.20 °C respectively during 2018-19 and 2019-20).