Abstract:

Cadmium is one of the most harmful heavy metals to the environment, human, animals and plants. Recently, studies to determine the physiological, morphological and biochemical damages of cadmium in plants have increased. In this study, it is aimed to determine the effects of the cadmium on the morphological characteristics of the plant by applying different doses to the grain sorghum. In this research; three different varieties (Akdari, Beydari and Öğretmenoglu) of sorghum from Batı Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute were used. The dose of cadmium applied is 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 ppm. Experiments were carried out at research greenhouses of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University in 2017 with 3 replications. Features examined; plant heights, diameters, cluster lengths, grain weight, leaf-cluster-stem ratios. Current findings revealed that increasing cadmium doses decreased plant height, diameter, cluster length, grain weight and cluster ratios. In addition, it was observed that the leaf rate was not affected by the dose increase on the average. As a result of the study, it was observed that Cd, which is known to be highly toxic for humans and plants, The grain sorghum varieties used in this research (Akdarı, Beydarı and Öğretmenoğlu) were found to be negatively affected by cadmium doses at levels of 25 ppm and above. When the soil pH is considered, it is considered that sorghum plant at 25 ppm and higher doses are negatively affected morphologically and it is not suitable for yield purposes for light alkaline soils.

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