Stress response of Triticum aestivum L. and Brassica juncea L. against heavy metals growing at distillery and tannery wastewater contaminated site.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of potentially toxic elements on biochemical parameters in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and mustard (Brassica juncea L.) plants growing at distillery and tannery wastewater contaminated sites. The analysis of plants showed the highest accumulation of Fe (361 mg kg-1 in wheat root and 359 mg kg-1 in mustard leaves) followed by Zn, Cr and Mn in leaf>shoot>root. Further, the Chl-a, b, and carotenoids content was also found high in plant samples. Results also showed that photosynthetic content in wheat and mustard growing at tannery wastewater contaminated sites was Chl-a 3.92, 4.53 (mg g_1 fw), Chl-b 2.39, 1.29 (mg g_1 fw) and carotenoids 0.28, 0.32 (mg g_1 fw), respectively. Whereas, photosynthetic content in these plants with distillery waste was as Chl-a 3.43, 4.88 (mg g_1 fw), Chl-b 1.12, 2.05 (mg g_1 fw) and carotenoids 0.24, 0.29 (mg g_1 fw), respectively. In addition, the activity of plant enzymes such as SOD, APx, GPX, MDA, H2O2, and CAT was also higher in selected plants in comparison to control plants. Moreover, the high bioconcentration factor of Zn > 1 (1.29) and translocation factor >10 (10.31) of Cr in tannery wastewater affected mustard plants. This study concluded that industrial wastewaters are the primary sources of metal accumulation in agricultural crops and thus, it should not be discharged into the environment before its proper treatment. Hence, the continuous monitoring of sludge/soil, agricultural plants and water quality are imperative for the impediment of possible health hazards to animal and human beings.