Amelioration of Cadmium Effects on Fruit Quality of French Bean with Iron

Cadmium (Cd) is an important and widespread pollutant element and is highly toxic for plants, animals and human beings. In order to study the deleterious effects of cadmium, french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were grown in refined sand supplied variable levels of cadmium viz. 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mM supplemented in control nutrient solution. The toxic effects of cadmium in french bean were ameliorated by different modes of iron supplementation. At Cd levels > 0.3 mM, the growth of plants was depressed and they developed Cd toxicity symptoms as chlorosis of young leaves. Excess Cd lowered the biomass and economic yield of plants and disturb the whole metabolism. Discontinuation of 0.3 mM Cd after 15 days and supplementation of iron by different modes, recovery was marked in absence of Cd. The fruit quality of french bean was also improved by discontinuation of Cd and supplementation of iron. The recovery was most effective when Cd was discontinued and plants were supplied normal nutrient solution with 0.25 mM iron through roots with 0.25 mM iron in foliar spray than any other mode of iron supplementation. The threshold of toxicity and toxicity value of Cd in different plant parts were also observed.