Studies on Alpha–Amylase Activity in Germinating Seeds of Four Leguminous Crops in Response to Sulphur Dioxide

Germinating seeds of some widely cultivated leguminous crops of western Uttar Pradesh, viz. Vigna mungo L. cv.T-9, Pisum sativum L. cv. Arkil, Cajanus cajan L. cv. UPAS – 120 and Cicer arietinum L. cv. Avrodhi were exposed to four different concentrations of sulphur dioxide, viz. 653, 1306, 2612 and 3918 μg m⁻³. Alpha – amylase activity was calculated as the amount of starch hydrolysed by the germinating seeds which was found to decrease upon increasing the concentration of the pollutant in Vigna mungo and Cicer arietinum. A slight increase was observed in Pisum sativum at 653 and 1306 μg m⁻³ and Cajanus cajan at 653 μg m⁻³ of SO2. The maximum decrease was observed at 3918 μg m⁻³ which was 24.14, 15.48, 28.66 and 9.88 percent in Vigna mungo, Pisum sativum, Cajanus cajan and Cicer arietinum respectively. The results obtained were tabulated, graphically compared and statistically analysed for the critical difference.