PARMAR, S.A. AND RAVAL, A.A.
Abstract
Presently, we are facing a major problem of soil contamination by heavy metals through mining activities and pesticides. Another problem of water shortage is also increasing. To address this issue, an important glycoprotein called Glomalin produced by the taxon Glomales plays a significant role. Its main functions are soil aggregation, sequestration of heavy metals, and management of biotic and abiotic stress. Here, we studied the effect of various abiotic stress conditions in maize plants in pot experiments. In drought stress conditions, Glomalin stores water and it is also used to sequester heavy metals in soil. The effect of glomalin was observed in maize-cultivated soil pots containing heavy metal CdCl2 at concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg soil. Seed germination was observed in maize grown in a 50 mg/kg concentration of heavy metal containing glomalin. Our results also showed that glomalin improved plant growth even under drought stress.