Abstract

Amtul Mujeeb, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, *Muhammad Shafiq, Muhammad Kabir and
Zia-Ur-Rehman Farooqi

ABSTRACT

Nickel is available in the environment in various chemical forms due to geological, industrial and anthropogenic activities and accumulated in plants. Nickel is a trace element for normal plant growth. The high level of nickel effects germination and growth of plant. In this research, the treatment of various concentration of nickel (0.6, 1.2, 1.8 and 2.4mM) affected seed germination, seedling growth, root / shoot ratio and biomass of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Nickel treatment at all concentration produced less toxic effects on seed germination and fresh dry weight of cowpea. The seedling height, root growth and root / shoot ratio of cowpea at high concentration of nickel at 1.2 mM were significantly (p<0.05) decreased. Nickel treatment at 0.6 mM produced significant (p<0.05) reduction in dry weight of cowpea. The seedlings of V. unguiculata L. were also recorded for seedling vigor index and tolerance to nickel toxicity. The results showed that V. unguiculata seedlings has high seedling vigor index (S.V.I) and tolerance indices to nickel at 0.6 mM and lowest at 2.4 mM treatment.