TOXICOLOGICAL STUDY OF HEAVY METALS ON EARLY GROWTH RESPONSES OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.)

Environmental contamination due to heavy metals is a major problem in recent time. We studied effects of Pb, Hg and Cr heavy metals on two sunflower varieties (Hysun-33 and SF-5009). Application of these heavy metals significantly (p Hg>Cr). Present study suggested heavy metals induced seed dormancy, phytotoxicity on meristemetic cell division and inhibited activity of growth hormones due to which seedlings attained stressed growth along metal concentration gradient.