Effect of heavy metals on the Photosynthetic pigments of Leptadenia reticulata (Wight & Arn)

In plants, heavy metals have been seen to deploy their toxic action mostly by damaging chloroplast and interrupting photosynthesis. The hindrance of photosynthesis is the outcome of interference of metal ions with photosynthetic enzymes and chloroplast membranes. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of heavy metals (Cr, Pb and Cd) on the content of chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids of the Leptadenia reticulata. The plants were exposed to different concentrations (10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, 30mg/kg, 40mg/kg and 50mg/kg) of heavy metals (Cr, Pb and Cd). The study revealed that as the heavy metal concentration gets increased the content of these photosynthetic pigments viz. chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids got reduced as compared to control. However the maximum reduction was seen in case of cadmium.