Effect of sodium fluoride on seed germination, early seedling growth and biochemical constitutents of wheat.

Effects of various doses of fluoride were studied on different growth param eters of Triticum aestivum during early seedling growth. All the applied co ncentrations of fluoride resulted in a decrease in germination percentage a s well as rate of germination. Root and shoot length exhibited steady rise in length upto 40 mu g/ml and then showed a gradual decrease. Both fresh we ight and dry weight showed a gradual decrease as compared to the controls a t the higher concentrations (40 mu g/ml) onwards of fluoride applied. The c hlorophyll content increased at lower concentrations of 20 and 40 mu g/ml a nd then decreased gradually with the higher concentrations applied. Soluble leaf proteins decreased while there was a steady increase in the phenol co ntent with increasing doses of fluoride.