Physiological and biochemical changes in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. due to nickel stress

Environmental pollution due to industrial, mining and agricultural activity as well as transportation, leads to production of high amounts of contaminants like heavy metals into surface water and soils which ultimately leaches to ground water and also affects the biosphere. In the present investigation, germination study was conducted in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] In order to find out the changes in germination, different developmental stages in terms of its growth, physiological and biochemical alteration due to nickel stress. The seeds of cow pea were germinated in variable nickel concentrations ranging from 0-100 mg/l of nickel. In another experiment conducted in pot culture revealed that, parameters the growth parameters and different physiological and biochemical parameters were decreased whereas only free proline content were increased with increase in concentration of nickel. It was also observed that seeds of cow pea showed better result in terms of growth and different physiological and biochemical parameters in 20 ppm of nickel at different interval of days like 10th, 20th and 30th day of growth of seedling thereby indicating that nickel within 20mg/kg could facilitate the plants growth and it is subsequently affect the seedling when it exceeds from 20 mg/kg of nickel in soil.