Evaluation of Chromium Induced Stress on Growth of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

Heavy metals are harmful for plants growth. Chromium is one of them which affect growth and yield of plants negatively. Aim of present study was to access the effects of chromium on barley growth. Barley seeds were sown in pots filled with acid washed sand. Different levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μM) of chromium treatments were applied. Chromium (III) chloride hexahydrate was taken as a source of chromium. Distilled water was used as control (0 μM) treatment. Results showed that root, shoot and total plant length gets reduced significantly and the reduction percentage over control was also increased with increasing Cr concentrations. Leaf surface area was also decreased non-significantly. Chromium also caused a negative impact on fresh and dry weight of (root, shoot and whole plant). Root, shoot fresh weight was diminished by chromium non-significantly at lower concentrations (25 and 50 μM) but significant reduction was observed at higher concentrations (75 and 100 μM). Fresh weight of whole plant was reduced significantly over control by all chromium treatments (25, 50, 75 and 100 μM). A significant reduction was also recorded for plant dry weight (root, shoot and whole plant).