Invertis Journal of Science & Technology

Today's anthropogenic activities have introduced increased concentration of heavy metals in the environment. Copper being as an essential micronutrient for the growth can also show an adverse effect on morphology and biochemical activities of plants in its higher concentration. Current study was to find out the copper induced changes and their effect on morphological and biochemical constituents in safflower. Safflower seeds were grown in Hoagland's medium containing various concentrations of copper sulfate (25, 50 and 100μM) along with control. The seedlings were harvested after every 10^th and 20^th days. The morphological study revealed the effect of copper by declining the growth of seedlings in its higher concentration. The growth of the roots was found to be severely retarded with curling and negative geotropic effect and yellow color leaves after 20^th day of harvesting in its higher concentration. In response to excess copper, the safflower leaves exhibited a significant increase in total polyphenol, flavonoid, proline. The level of lipid peroxidation was found to be less at 10^th day while it was significantly elevated at 20^th day's seedlings.