Effect of industrial wastewater on wheat germination, growth, yield, nutrients and bioaccumulation of lead

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 9;10(1):11361. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68208-7.

Abstract

Due to fresh water scarcity, farmers are using polluted water for irrigation. This research was conducted to study the bioaccumulation of Pb in wheat (Cv. Shafaq-2006). The experiment was comprised of seven treatments of lead i.e. 0-1,000 mg Pb/kg. The results revealed that lead severely reduces germination (- 30%), seedling fresh weight (- 74%), seedling dry weight (- 77%), vigor index (- 89%), tolerance index (- 84%), plant height (- 33%), number of leaves (- 41%), root fresh weight (- 50%), shoot fresh weight (- 62%), root dry weight (- 63%), shoot dry weight (- 71%), and root length (- 45%). The physiological parameters also respond negatively like stomatal conductance (- 82%), transpiration rate (- 72%) and photosynthetic rate (- 74%). Similarly, biochemical parameters also showed negative impacts, like carotenoids (- 41), total chlorophyll (- 43), chlorophyll a (- 42) and chlorophyll b (- 53). Yield parameters like the number of seed/plant, seed weight/plant, 1,000 seed weight and harvest index were reduced by 90%, 88%, 44% and 61%, respectively in T6. In addition, protein contents (- 81%), phosphorous (- 60%) and potassium (- 55%) were highly effected in the highest lead concentration (T6). Lead accumulation was extremely higher in seeds (119%) as compared to control plants. Lead bio-accumulation above threshold concentrations in crop parts is a serious human health concern.

MeSH terms

  • Bioaccumulation
  • Edible Grain / chemistry
  • Edible Grain / drug effects
  • Edible Grain / growth & development*
  • Edible Grain / metabolism
  • Germination / drug effects
  • Industrial Waste / adverse effects*
  • Lead / analysis
  • Lead / metabolism
  • Lead / toxicity*
  • Nutrients / analysis
  • Nutrients / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / analysis
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Seeds / drug effects
  • Seeds / growth & development
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Triticum / chemistry
  • Triticum / drug effects
  • Triticum / growth & development*
  • Triticum / metabolism
  • Wastewater / chemistry
  • Wastewater / toxicity*

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Plant Proteins
  • Waste Water
  • Lead