EFFECTS OF CADMIUM-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS ON GROWTH AND NITROGEN ASSIMILATION IN BLACKGRAM [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]

Cadmium (cd) accumulation, oxidative damage, and nitrogenmetabolism were studied in roots and leaves of 30-d-old blackgram plants [vignamungo (l.) hepper], grown in a mixture of soil and compost (3:1) with differentcd concentrations. significant reductions in both root and shoot dry weight werenoted. the concentration of cd in roots and leaves increased with increasing cdlevels. the level of lipid peroxidation elevated with a consequent increase in h2o2content under cd stress in both plant organs. the activity of enzymes mediating thenitrogen assimilation in roots and leaves was greatly reduced in the presence of cd,except glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) which showed a significant increase.