Lambda-Cyhalothrin Induced Oxidative Stress Alters Ascorbate - glutathione Cycle in Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Forty-five-day old plants of Glycine max (Soybean) were exposed to several concentrations (0.00%, 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20% and 0.25%) of Lambda-Cyhalothrin (synthetic pyrethroid insecticide) through foliar spray in the experimental fields of Hamdard University, New Delhi. In the treated plants, as observed at the pre-flowering (10 DAT), flowering (45 DAT) and post-flowering (70 DAT) stages, lipid peroxidation, proline content and total glutathione content increased, where as the total ascorbate content decreased, as compared with the control. Among the enzymatic antioxidants, activity of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidise and glutathione reductase increased significantly where as that of catalase declined markedly in relation to increasing concentration of Lambda-Cyhalothrin applied. The changes observed were dose-dependent, showing a strong correlation with the degree of treatment.