FLUORIDE-INDUCED ABNORMALITIES AND MODULATIONS IN GROWTH PARAMETERS OF SOLANUM MELONGENA L. (BRINJAL, BENGUN, AUBERGINE, EGGPLANT).

Fluoride is a naturally accruing element which harms our environment. Accumulation of excess fluoride in the environment poses a serious threat to plants. It causes various changes in the biophysiological processes of plants. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of NaF on Solanum melongena L. (brinjal, bengun, aubergine, eggplant). S. melongena belongs to the family Solanaceae and is an important edible plant. It was grown during the crop season (August-October, 2017) in pots. Different concentrations of NaF, i.e., 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 ppm, were applied, along with a control, as a soil drench and foliar spray twice a week. The parameters examined to determine the effect of the stress of NaF on the plant growth were the shoot and root length and the number and the area of the leaves. There was a dose-related reduction in growth with the NaF treatment. In general, the soil drench affected growth more than the foliar spray. The results show that Solanum melongena L. is a salt sensitive crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]