Phytoremediation Potential Of Induced Cd Toxicity In Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L. And Vigna Mungo L. By Neem Plants Parts

Plants can be used to remove heavy metal from the environment and hence reduce the toxic effect of heavy metal on health of all living organism. Cadmium is a non-essential heavy metal that does not have any metabolic use and can be harmful even at low concentrations. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) are two important pulse crops grown in India to eradicate the malnutrition and hunger from developing country like India. Plants were grown in pots treated with 60 mg Cd kg(-1) soil as CdCl2 caused significant damage to both the crops. The toxicity was significantly reduced when these plants earlier treated with Cd with different plants parts of neem. The changes in plant height, fresh as well as dry weights, percent pollen fertility, number of pods per plant, total chlorophyll content and nitrate reductase activity were observed. The highest improvement was noted in those plants treated with neem fruits alone while the minimum in those plants treated with Cd, neem leaf respectively. The effect was more pronounced in fenugreek than blackgram.