Journal of Environmental Biology

Role of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

G.M. Vidyasagar*, D. Kotresha, N. Sreenivasa  and Ramesh Karnam

Department of P.G. Studies and Research in Botany, Gulbarga University, Gulbarga - 585 106, India

(Received: May 12, 2006; Revised received: March 03, 2007 ; Re-revised received: June 20, 2007 ; Accepted: August 07, 2007)

Abstract: Present study revealed the importance of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (variety JP-1-1). The seeds treated with different concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) of endosulfan showed a significant decrease in percent germination over control.  As the concentration increased, the shoot length, root length and biomass decreased.  The amount of chlorophyll-a and protein decreased gradually with the increase in endosulfan concentration, whereas phenol   and proline contents increased from 1.08 to 1.57 mg g^-1 and 0.18 to 0.98 mg g^-1, respectively.  Chlorophyll-b decreased in 0.2% (0.97 mg g^-1) as compared to control and revealed a gradual increase in 0.4% (1.11 mg g^-1) and 0.6 % (1.13 mg g^-1). Endosulfan treatment suppressed the catalase and protease activity, but significantly increased the level of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, SOD and amylase enzymes. Lower dose (0.2%) of endosulfan stimulated the activity of amylases.

Key words:   Endosulfan, Sorghum bicolor, Biochemical constituents, oxidative stress

PDF of full length paper is available with author (*gmvidyasagar@rediffmail.com)

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