Mercury-induced changes in growth variables and antioxidative enzyme activities in Indian mustard

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In a hydroponic system, experiments were conducted to study the effect of different levels of mercury treatments (0, 5, 10, 25 and 50 µM Hg) on Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. Pusa Jai Kisan. Concentration-dependent inhibitory effects were observed on growth characteristics (plant dry mass, leaf area, shoot and root length). These were accompanied by an increase in shoot Hg content and in oxidative stress characteristics such as the MDA and H2O2 levels. The plant growth decreased maximally at 50 µM of Hg. Despite a reduction in growth, activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) were enhanced with increase in Hg-treatments. The Hg-induced alterations in growth are linked with increase in lipid peroxidation (MDA and H2O2), whereas the enhancement in activities of antioxidant enzymes protects plants from Hg-induced oxidative stress.