Effect of Copper on Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Abstract

The effects of different concentrations of copper sulphate on the growth of and the accumulation of Cu +2 by root, shoot, chlorophyll content and leaf growth of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) were examined in this study. The purpose of our experiments was to consider sensitivity of two sunflower hybrid cultivars (FH626 and FH674) to copper ions on the ground of physiological characteristics amount of assimilatory pigment, and shooth length to show possible resistance mechanisms of this plant to copper ions. The experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Fashion with three replications per treatment and five plants per replication. Tested cultivars varied according to the tested parameters, such as shooth length, relatively high rate of tolerance. Although no significant visual symptoms of toxic effect of metal were markedly noticeable, a decrease in the content of dry basis in the roots was seen in comparison with the control of two tested cultivars treated by Cu. FH626 & FH674 tend to be the most resistant or tolerant hybrid cultivars to Cu toxicity from the point of view of evaluation of morphological parameters of the cultivars.