Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of herbicide Imazethapyr on germination and metabolic changes during early growth of chickpea. Five concentrations (0.5,1,2.5,5, and 10 ppm) of IM was employed along with control in hydroponie condition. Shoot-root axis and cotyledon of 4, 8,12 and 15 day old germinated seedlings were used to assess the toxic effects of IM on morphological and biochemical parameters. Though a significant decrease in the length of radicle and plumule was observed with increase in concentration of the herbicide, the percentage of seed germination was not affected. In the cotyledon of treated seedlings, total protein, total carbohydrate, and starch content were increased in line with higher doses, but reducing sugar content was in a converse pattern. In the embryonic axis, a decrease in total protein and reducing sugar was observed in response to dose increase, but total carbohydrate and starch increased way at the same condition. It could be concluded that mobilization of seed reserve was suppressed by IM as a result impaired germination and early growth was noticed. Consequently, higher concentration of IM resulted in decline in early growth of non-target or main crop, i.e. chickpea. Copyright © EM International.