Physiological and biochemical effects of boron toxicity in mustard during the seedling stage

A study was conducted to determine the physiological and biochemical effects of boron in seedlings of mustard (Brassica juncea L. var Varuna). For this seeds were sown in petridishes with varying concentrations of boron (0, 0.33, 3.3, 33, 330 mM) in seed germinator. Seed germination and vigor index was found to be decreased and percentage phytotoxicity was increased in seeds with increase in the concentration of boron in germinating solution. There was accumulation of sugars and decreased starch concentration in cotyledons and embryonic axes of growing seedling with increasing boron stress. For the estimation of oxidative damage in cotyledons and embryonic axes of mustard seedlings, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), phenols and activities of antioxidative enzymes- polyphenoloxydase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were determined. Boron toxicity caused accumulation of H₂O₂, TBARS and phenols and affected the antioxidative enzyme activity in growing seedling components.