Published Paper Details:

The extract of the red mud waste prepared in the laboratory is almost equivalent to the lechate leaking from red mud pond of the contaminated site. The red mud waste extract is deadly toxic to the germinating crop seeds in field conditions. Experiments were conducted at sub-lethal concentrations to study the impact of lechate waste on green gram seed biological parameters. Toxicity study indicated that lechate extract is deadly toxic. In petriplate culture experiments the lechate waste is deadly toxic but toxicity depleted when tested in pot culture due to interaction of lechate waste with soil particles. Seed germination and seedling establishment significantly depleted with the increase in lechate concentration when compared to control seedlings. The total chlorophyll, pheophytin and carotene content of green gram plant leaves decreased significantly with the increase in lechate concentration compared to their respective control values after 144hr of germination. The photosynthetic rate, respiration rate and GPP values significantly decreased in the exposed green gram seedlings with the application of lechate compared to control green gram seedlings in petri plate culture. The residual alumina accumulation increased with the increase in toxicant (lechate) concentration in the leaves and roots. Lechate exposed roots accumulated more amount of alumina than the leaves of the exposed seedlings/ plants. The complex bio molecules like DNA, RNA, Protein, FAA content decreased in lechate exposure seedlings compared to control seedlings The photosynthetic rate, respiration rate and gross primary production significantly declined in exposed seedlings compared to control seedlings. Little insignificant increment in the photosynthetic rate was noted at sub-lethal concentration of the lechate. The enzyme activity tested decreased in the exposed green gram seedlings with the application of lechate compared to control green gram seedlings in Petri plate culture. The study on seed biology indicated that the red mud waste dumped by the industry is deadly toxic and if released accidentally even into the environment, will cause environmental havoc. Present study aims at understanding the impact of RM (red mud) RM Waste lechate on the seed germination, seedling establishment, eco-physiological studies, biomolecular studies and enzymological studies of a crop seed germinating under lechate stress.