Journal of Horticulture
Open Access

Abstract

Effect of Pesticide on Nitrate Reductase Activity in Trigonella Foenum i.e.,Fenugreek

Pankaj SM and Rohit P Gore

Nitrate reductase (NR) is the key enzyme of nitrate assimilation subjected to inhibition by excessive use of pesticides. Now a day’s pesticides are used commonly at a large scale on field. In the present study, the effect of pesticides on nitrate reductase activity has been studied by in vivo assay in Trigonella foenum-graecum. The four pesticides Confidor, Omite, Karathane, Chlorpyrifos+Cypermethrinwere used for study at various concentrations such as 25, 50,100 and 200 µl/100 ml. The application of pesticides showed decrease in activity of nitrate reductase enzyme. Out of these pesticides confidor affected the nitrate reductase activity maximum. The nitrate reductase activity in control plant was found to be 0.460U ± 0.005 which was reduced up to 0.192 ± 0.008U in presence of confidor. Even in the tissue specific assay it was seen that the leaves and stem of the plant, the NR activity was affected maximum than other parts. The use of pesticides lowers the NR activity of the Trigonella plants thereby affecting its nitrogen metabolism.