Influence of Zinc and Cadmium on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize (Zea mays L.)

This research was carried out as pod cultivation to evaluate effect of different level of zinc and cadmium on agro physiological traits of Maize via factorial experiment based on completelly randomized design with three replications along 2012-2013. The factors included different level of Zinc (Zn1=0 or Control, Zn2=15 and Zn3=30 mg.kg-1) and Cadmium (Cd1=0 or control, Cd2=10, Cd3=20 and Cd4=30 mg.kg-1). The results showed that zinc and cadmium yield, chlorophyll a and b, cell membrane stability, malon di aldehyde and tyrosine significantly affect the probability of a percent. In soil treated with increasing concentrations of the increased seed yield and highest performance 30 mg treatment was achieved. Fell sharply with increasing cadmium performance and best results of treatment was observed. Among different concentrations of zinc, the best treatment to improve seed yield and biochemical characteristics was the treatment with 30 mg.kg-1 zinc. In cadmium treatment, contrary to zinc treatment, as the concentration increased the studied traits decreased significantly, so that the best results were obtained by the control treatment. The results of the interaction effect of zinc and cadmium on the studied traits indicated the reduction of adverse effects of cadmium on corn by zinc, but the best results of the interaction effect of zinc and cadmium on all traits were associated with the Zn3Cd1 treatment.