Zinc sulfate and boric corrosive are transcendently utilized as manufactured composts for rice cropping system in Pakistan. The present research work was conducted to investigate the adverse effects of these fertilizers at 150 and 350 mg/L concentrations in rice (Oryza sativa L.). The biochemical and molecular parameters of NIAB-IR9 and KSK-282 varieties of rice were studied being treated with the selected fertilizers' concentrations. Both fertilizers showed positive effects on the biochemical parameters (total soluble sugars, chlorophyll a and b, total carotenoid) of rice seedlings as compared to controls. However, both fertilizers' concentrations with exception of zinc sulfate (150 mg/L) caused more cell membrane injuries and genotoxic effects in to rice seedlings. Zinc sulfate at 150 mg/L significantly decreased the cell membrane injury in the shoots (1.07 mu s/cm) and roots (2.0 mu s/cm) of KSK-282 as compared to the shoots (1.9 mu s/cm) and roots (3.7 mu s/cm) of control, respectively. Similarly, zinc sulfate at its lower concentration remained non-toxic for the genome of rice seedlings. Therefore, it can be concluded that zinc sulfate at 150 mg/L can be the suitable fertilizer's concentration to both rice varieties subjected to further field trials. (C) 2018 Friends Science Publishers
