Mercury-Induced Phytotoxicity and Responses in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Seedlings

Cotton is a potential and excellent candidate to balance both agricultural production remediation of mercury-contained soil, as its main fiber hardly involves into food chains. However, in cotton, there known rarely about the tolerance response mercury (Hg) environments. In this study, biochemical physiological damages, Hg concentrations (0, 1, 10, 50 100 µM), were investigated upland cotton seedlings. The results on germination cottonseeds indicated rates suppressed by high levels, decrease percentage was more than 10% at 1000 µM Hg. Shoots roots’ growth significantly inhibited over 10 inhibitor (IR) fresh weight close values between shoots roots, whereas those dry root obviously influenced comparison organs, inhibition ranked > leaf stem. declining translocation factor (TF) opposed level even low 0.05 assimilation terms photosynthesis, plants, affected negatively Hg, evidenced from performances pigments (chlorophyll b) gas exchange (Intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), rate (Pn) stomatal conductance (Gs)). Sick phenotypes surface included small white zone, shrinking necrosis. Membrane lipid peroxidation leakage dose-dependent malondialdehyde (MDA) content relative conductivity (RC) leaves roots. More damaged antioxidant enzyme system roots (p < 0.05). Concludingly, post negative consequences plants growth, physiology biochemistry, phytotoxicity damage appeared concentration.