Evaluation of Chromium Toxicity on Different Growth and Biochemical Attributes of Abrus precatoriusL

Abstract

The toxicity of trace metals on human health and the environment has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Plants are the main link in the transfer of heavy metals from the contaminated soil to humans. In the present study,effects of differentconcentrationsof chromium(Cr, 50-250 mg/l) was analyzed in medicinal plant Abrus precatorius L. with respect to seed germination, shoot and root growthand their dry weightsalong with changes in biochemical contents likepigments, protein and total sugar. The study showed that the different concentrations of Crhad anadverse effect on percentage of germination and growth parameters. The results also suggested that at higher concentrations, roots were strongly affected as compared toshoots. Further,when biochemical analysis was carried out it was depicted that the biochemical contents like chlorophyll Aand B, carotenoids, protein and total sugar also decreased sequentially as theCrconcentration was increased.