Vol. 2, Issue 8, Part D (2016)

Abstract
Nickel is an essential micronutrient for plant growth but beyond optimum limits it becomes highly toxic. The excess concentration of nickel in the soil deleteriously effect the plant metabolism particularly photosynthesis. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) is an important legume crop. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nickel on main photosynthetic pigment, Hill activity and activity of key enzyme of photosynthesis i.e. Rubisco. Along with this changes in the morphological parameter related with this process were also taken into consideration i.e. number and size of stomata. In the sand culture experiment lentil plants were analyzed on the 30th day after sowing in the sand amended with various levels of Nickel (1mM, 4mM, and 6mM). Nickel at all levels tested decreased the number and size of stomata in the leaves, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content, Hill activity and Rubisco activity as compared to control plants.