Impact of Inorganic Arsenicals on Vegetative Growth of Two Pakistani Origins Sunflower Cultivars

Inorganic arsenicals impact on vegetative growth of two sunflower (helianthus annuus l.) cultivars (fh-385 as hybrid 1 and fh-405 as hybrid 2) was monitored. various levels of two different sodium salts of arsenic,namely,sodium arsenate (na2haso4.7h2o) as source of as5+ and sodium arsenite (naaso2) as source of as3+,were used to evaluate the effect of arsenic on plant water relation parameters. significant stress effects were found when arsenic was higher inconcentrations (>60 mg/kg soil of both salts) as compared to control plants. genotype fh-405 showed higher levels for shoot and root length,water contents,number of leaves,and leaf area,which indicates well adaptation of this cultivar in arsenic contaminated environment. t5 (100 mg/kg) of both salts showed notable stressful impacts as compared to low arsenic concentrations (20,40 mg/kg) and especially control plants in case of all morphophysiological parameters of sunflower cultivars. © 2015 muhammad asif imran et al.