Assessing the Phytotoxicity of Sugar Industry Effluents on Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. S-22): Morphological Alterations in Leaf Dimensions

This study investigates the detrimental effects of sugar industry effluents on the growth and development of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. S-22), focusing specifically on lamina length and breadth. The experiment involved exposing plants to varying concentrations i.e. 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100 % of sugar industry effluents. The results showed significant reductions in lamina length and breadth with increasing 80% and 100% per cent effluent concentrations. Compared to controls, plants treated with 100% effluent exhibited a 5.67 % decrease in lamina length and a 0.82 % decrease in lamina breadth. The findings suggest that sugar industry effluents induce phytotoxicity, leading to stunted growth and altered leaf morphology in tomato plants. These results have implications for agricultural practices near sugar industrial sites, highlighting the need for efficient wastewater management strategies to mitigate environmental pollution and ensure sustainable crop production.