Vol. 3, Issue 8, Part B (2017)

Abstract
Comprehensive research and studies are going on to find out effect and degree of toxicity of pesticides and alternative approaches to minimize the toxic effects of pesticides. The present experiment was hence conducted to study the toxicity of pesticide malathion on growth and metabolic activities of an important pulse crop moong (Phaseolus radiatus) and role of micronutrients iron and zinc on this toxicity. Root length, Shoot length and Germination percentage of moong plants were found to be decreased with increasing doses of pesticide. Decrease in root growth and shoot growth were upto 41% and 79% respectively and germination percentage was recorded as low as 59% at 5% dose of pesticide. When micronutrients, 5.6ppm Fe or 15ppm Zn, were supplied with 2% malathion on moong plants they both showed resistance to the ill effects of pesticides. Decrease in root growth was as low as 1.84% when Fe was supplied along with 2% malathion, while germination percentage was increased when moong seeds were soaked in combined dose of 2% pesticide with Zn. Chlorophyll, protein content and catalase activity decreased while peroxidase activity increased significantly with increasing doses of malathion. Protein content at higher doses viz. 2% and 5% was 49.11 mg./gm.f.wt. and 21.78 mg./gm.f.wt. as compared to 115.65 mg./gm.f.wt. in control. Both Fe and Zn supplemented with 2% basal dose negated the ill effects of pesticide on protein content significantly. Supplementation of Fe also enhanced the chlorophyll content significantly. Catalase and peroxidase activities were found to increased due to supplementation of Fe whereas decrease in these parameters were observed due to supplementation of Zn with 2% pesticide. Thus it can be inferred that higher dose of malathion can be applied on moong plants if supplemented with 5.6ppm Fe without compromising the plant growth and its antioxidant potential.