Effect of Chromium Toxicity on Germination and Early Seedling Growth in Maize (Zea Mays L.)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine and compare the inhibitory effects of chromium on seed germination and early seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.). Chromium was selected to find out its harmful effects on seed germination and seedling growth of Maize Seeds of the selected plants were grown in Petri dishes and treated with varying concentrations of Chromium solution. Each treatment was replicated three times in a randomized design and observed for 5 days. The developing seedlings were studied for their total rate of germination, length of a radicle, and length of plumule compared to a set of seeds germinated using distilled water as a control. It was observed that the harmful effects of chromium on all the parameters were directly proportional to the concentration of solution employed, with the inhibition of growth being pronounced from 400mg/l onwards. It was found that the level of chromium at and above 100 mg/L proved to be lethal to all the maize cultivars selected based on the comparison of the toxic effect on germination, plumule and radical. Based on the response of the plants to the toxic effect of chromium concentration was seen in the following order, 800mg/L >600mg/L >400mg/L >100mg/L.