Table 6.1 Effect of heavy metal toxicity on plants
S. No.
Heavy
metal
Toxic effect on plant
Reference
1
As
Reduced seed germination; decrease
height of seedling; it also reduced area
of leaf and dry biomass production
that effect fruit yield. The other effect
of heavy metal are stunted growth and
chlorosis
Marin et al. (1993), Cox et al. (1996),
Abedin et al. (2002), Barrachina et al.
(1995)
2
Cd
Reduced seed germination; lower
plant nutrient content; decrease shoot
and root length; Cd accumulation in
plant part
Jiang et al. (2001), Wang et al.
(2007), Yourtchi and Bayat (2013)
3
Co
Plant nutrient content decrease; antioxidant enzyme activities were
decreased; decrease concentration of
plant sugar, starch, amino acids, and
protein content; reduction in height
(shoot, root) and leaf area; decrease in
chlorophyll content
Jayakumar et al. (2013), Jayakumar
et al. (2008), Jayakumar et al. (2007)
4
Cr
Reduced height of plant (shoot and
root); reduction in plant nutrient
acquisition; decreased rate of germination; reduction of plant biomass
Sharma and Sharma (1993), Panda
and Patra (2000), Moral et al. (1996),
Nematshahi et al. (2012)
5
Cu
Cu concentration increased in plant
root; root malformation and reduction; plant death; decreased biomass
and seed production; root growth
inhibited
Cook et al. (1997), Kjer and
Elmegaard (1996), Sheldon and
Menzies (2005)
6
Hg
Reduction in plant length; formation
of tiller and panicle decreased; yield
reduced; Hg concentration increased
in shoot and root of seedlings; germination percentage decreased;
flowering decreased; fruit weight
reduced; chlorosis
Du et al. (2005), Shekar et al. (2011)
7
Mn
Mn concentration increased in plant;
reduced shoot and root length; chlorosis; decrease photosynthetic content
(chlorophylls a and b); relative growth
rate decreased; O 2 evolution activity
decreased; decline plant growth
Arya and Roy (2011), Asrar et al.
(2005), Doncheva et al. (2005),
Shenker et al. (2004)
8
Ni
Chlorophyll content reduced and stomatal conductance; reduction in
enzyme activity which affected Calvin cycle and CO 2 fixation; reduced
plant nutrient; decrease in shoot yield;
chlorosis; decreased root growth
Sheoran et al. (1990), Khalid and
Tinsley (1980), Pandolfini et al.
(1992), Barsukova and Gamzikova
(1999), Lin and Kao (2005)
9
Pb
Decreased seed germination percentage; plant growth inhibited; plant
biomass decreased; plant chemical
Hussain et al. (2013), Kabir et al.
(2009), Moustakas et al. (1994)
(continued)
6 VAM: An Alternate Strategy for Bioremediation of Polluted Environment
157
S. No.
Heavy
metal
Toxic effect on plant
Reference
1
As
Reduced seed germination; decrease
height of seedling; it also reduced area
of leaf and dry biomass production
that effect fruit yield. The other effect
of heavy metal are stunted growth and
chlorosis
Marin et al. (1993), Cox et al. (1996),
Abedin et al. (2002), Barrachina et al.
(1995)
2
Cd
Reduced seed germination; lower
plant nutrient content; decrease shoot
and root length; Cd accumulation in
plant part
Jiang et al. (2001), Wang et al.
(2007), Yourtchi and Bayat (2013)
3
Co
Plant nutrient content decrease; antioxidant enzyme activities were
decreased; decrease concentration of
plant sugar, starch, amino acids, and
protein content; reduction in height
(shoot, root) and leaf area; decrease in
chlorophyll content
Jayakumar et al. (2013), Jayakumar
et al. (2008), Jayakumar et al. (2007)
4
Cr
Reduced height of plant (shoot and
root); reduction in plant nutrient
acquisition; decreased rate of germination; reduction of plant biomass
Sharma and Sharma (1993), Panda
and Patra (2000), Moral et al. (1996),
Nematshahi et al. (2012)
5
Cu
Cu concentration increased in plant
root; root malformation and reduction; plant death; decreased biomass
and seed production; root growth
inhibited
Cook et al. (1997), Kjer and
Elmegaard (1996), Sheldon and
Menzies (2005)
6
Hg
Reduction in plant length; formation
of tiller and panicle decreased; yield
reduced; Hg concentration increased
in shoot and root of seedlings; germination percentage decreased;
flowering decreased; fruit weight
reduced; chlorosis
Du et al. (2005), Shekar et al. (2011)
7
Mn
Mn concentration increased in plant;
reduced shoot and root length; chlorosis; decrease photosynthetic content
(chlorophylls a and b); relative growth
rate decreased; O 2 evolution activity
decreased; decline plant growth
Arya and Roy (2011), Asrar et al.
(2005), Doncheva et al. (2005),
Shenker et al. (2004)
8
Ni
Chlorophyll content reduced and stomatal conductance; reduction in
enzyme activity which affected Calvin cycle and CO 2 fixation; reduced
plant nutrient; decrease in shoot yield;
chlorosis; decreased root growth
Sheoran et al. (1990), Khalid and
Tinsley (1980), Pandolfini et al.
(1992), Barsukova and Gamzikova
(1999), Lin and Kao (2005)
9
Pb
Decreased seed germination percentage; plant growth inhibited; plant
biomass decreased; plant chemical
Hussain et al. (2013), Kabir et al.
(2009), Moustakas et al. (1994)
(continued)
6 VAM: An Alternate Strategy for Bioremediation of Polluted Environment
157