Cadmium partitioning and seed quality in two varieties of peaand their hybrid as influenced by Rhizospheric Cadmium

Cadmium partitioning within pea plants and its effect on biomass production and seed quality were studied in a pot experiment using river sand as rooting medium. The two varieties (Arkel and HPF-4) and their hybrid (Arkel × HFP-4) differed in biomass production. Low dose of Cd²⁺ (2.5 mM) increased biomass of roots and above ground parts, while higher doses decreased shoot biomass in both cvs, root biomass only in HFP-4. Cadmium decreased both root and above ground biomass in the hybrid. Cadmium content in root and seed was maximum in HFP-4 and least in the hybrid and Arketl, respectively. Pod wall of the hybrid retained maximum amount of cadimum. Cadmium decreased starch content of seeds and such a reduction was evident even at 2.5 mM Cd²⁺ in HFP-4. It, however, did not affect total soluble proteins significantly except in the bybrid seeds. Cd²⁺ increased seed phytate and increase was significantly more in Arkel than HFP-4 and the hybrid.