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ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL
RESPONSES OF RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) TO HEXAVALENT
CHROMIUM
MAQSOOD AHMAD1, A. WAHID2*, SHEIKH
SAEED AHMAD3, ZAHID ALI BUTT4 AND MARYUM TARIQ1
Abstract: The
effects of hexavalent chromium (Cr) were studied in rice plants by
applying its different concentrations ranging from 50-500 mg/kg of
soil. Cr significantly altered growth of rice plants and reduced dry
weights of shoot (7-58%) and roots (7-73%) in different treatments. Cr
impact was remarkably high on photosynthetic rate (21-62%),
transpiration rate (5-59%), and stomatal conductance (21-66%).
Chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid contents were also
reduced in Cr-treatment plants by 17-47%, 12-43%, 31-50%,
respectively. Highly pronounced reductions were recorded in nitrogen
(23-82%), phosphorous (4-37%), and potassium (6-42%) content of
treated plant leaves. Cr accumulation was extremely higher in shoots
(3575-19150%), roots (1023-5869%), and seeds (21-249%) of treated
plants compared with control. Present investigation has reported
injurious effects of Cr6+ on different aspect of rice
plants. Cr accumulation in threshold amounts in plant parts and seeds
is a matter of serious concern to human health as it causes
cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure and cancer.
1Sustainable Development Study Centre, GC University Lahore, Pakistan
2Department of Environmental Sciences, BZ University, Multan, Pakistan
3Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University,
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
4Department of Botany, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
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