The present study deals with the individual and combined effect of two stresses i.e. UV-B radiation and heavy metals (lead and cadmium) on germination and growth of test crop Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber). The experiments were performed in three different ways i.e i) individual effect of UV-B radiation, ii) individual effect of heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and iii) combined effect of UV-B radiation and heavy metals. The results showed that a gradual decline in germination and growth occurred with the increase in concentration of heavy metals and enhancement in the time of exposure of UV-B radiation. Individually, the heavy metals affected more as compared to UV-B radiation. Cadmium affected more adversely as compared to lead on crop. In the combined treatment (heavy metals and UV-B radiation) more negative effects observed in comparison to individual treatment whereas, cadmium and UV-B radiation affect more severely as compare to lead and UV-B radiation treatment. Statistically the results were also significant.
Muniza Riaz, Iram Us Salam, Sahar Zaidi. (2019) INDIVIDUAL AND COMBINED EFFECT OF UV-B RADIATION AND HEAVY METALS (LEAD AND CADMIUM) ON CUCUMIS SATIVUS L. (CUCUMBER), , Volume 16, Issue1.
