Abstract
Due to fresh water scarcity, farmers are using polluted water for irrigation. This research was conducted to study the bioaccumulation of Pb in wheat (Cv. Shafaq-2006). The experiment was comprised of seven treatments of lead i.e. 0-1,000 mg Pb/kg. The results revealed that lead severely reduces germination (- 30%), seedling fresh weight (- 74%), seedling dry weight (- 77%), vigor index (- 89%), tolerance index (- 84%), plant height (- 33%), number of leaves (- 41%), root fresh weight (- 50%), shoot fresh weight (- 62%), root dry weight (- 63%), shoot dry weight (- 71%), and root length (- 45%). The physiological parameters also respond negatively like stomatal conductance (- 82%), transpiration rate (- 72%) and photosynthetic rate (- 74%). Similarly, biochemical parameters also showed negative impacts, like carotenoids (- 41), total chlorophyll (- 43), chlorophyll a (- 42) and chlorophyll b (- 53). Yield parameters like the number of seed/plant, seed weight/plant, 1,000 seed weight and harvest index were reduced by 90%, 88%, 44% and 61%, respectively in T6. In addition, protein contents (- 81%), phosphorous (- 60%) and potassium (- 55%) were highly effected in the highest lead concentration (T6). Lead accumulation was extremely higher in seeds (119%) as compared to control plants. Lead bio-accumulation above threshold concentrations in crop parts is a serious human health concern.