Abstract
Background: Metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems
due to various human activities. It can damage or alter the biosphere reducing the agricultural
productivity and can affect both animals and humans. Emission of various pollutants into the
atmosphere has many harmful effects on plant growth. Rapid urbanization, unregulated
industrialization, growing transport, metal plating and agricultural activities have created a
problem of heavy metals contamination.
Methods: A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the toxicity of chromium on
Glycine max. Chromium concentration applied to G. max was managed as 0.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 25,
50 and 100 mg kg-1
for experimental period of 90 days. The phytotoxic effect of chromium
metal was analyzed by studying seed germination, seedling vigor index, root and shoot
length, root and shoot fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll content and tolerance index.
Results: The data presented in this study showed that chromium metal adversely affects the
growth of G. max and significantly (p<0.05) reduces seed germination and growth. The toxic
effect of chromium on the seeds increased with increasing the concentration of the metal. It
was also found that high concentrations of chromium (50 and 100 mg kg-1
) can completely
inhibit the seed germination.
Conclusion: The chromium metal is extremely toxic for seeds and young seedling of G. max
at high concentrations. Moreover, G. max has little potential to counteract the deleterious
effect of chromium metal in soil at aforementioned treatments. The results of the present
study may help in better understanding of the mechanisms involved in pytoextraction.
Hira Amin, Basir Ahmed Arain, Farah Amin, Muhammad Ali Surhio. (2013) Analysis of growth response and tolerance index of Glycine max (L.) Merr. under hexavalent chromium stress, Advancements in Life Sciences, Volume 1 , Issue 4.
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