Growth, nodulation and dry matter yield of blackgram cultivars under nickel stress

Four cultivars of blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) were grown in soil amended with nickel (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg) and analysed on the 45th day. Nickel at all levels tested reduced the length of root and shoot, number of nodules, area of leaves and dry matter yield of root and shoot of blackgram cultivars. The reduction was lower in AB-1903 and ADT-3 than in ADT-4 and ADT-5. Cultivars AB-1903 and ADT-3 were less sensitive than ADT-4 and ADT-5. The accumulation of nickel was higher in roots than in shoots. The increase of nickel content in roots of blackgram did not differ with cultivars. However, the accumulation of nickel in shoots of blackgram differed with cultivars. The sensitive cultivar ADT-4 and ADT-5 accumulate more nickel in their shoots than the other cultivars, AB- 1903 and ADT-3.